I emailed my son and asked him how his homework was coming along. He came back with the best homework excuse ever. He should get a medal or something from the slacker brigade.
****************************************************
ohai! :D
Well, badly. Obama ate all of my vanilla wafers, so I threw my super blue pikachu at him and he turned into a bottle of germ x! So then I was really bored. I still had some rockstar-flavored rocks left, so I was able to dip them in a tub of liquid Xenon and feed them to Cinder, who proceeded to grow very large. (btw, the cat box needs changing. really badly.) I stuffed Cinder in my Jupiter automatic teleportation device, but it exploded because Cinder started growing again. I attached her to an email (which of course made the email large and boggy), along with my new bottle of Germ X, to Bush and he apparently dropped them into yet another tub of liquid Xenon. After exactly 3.14 stirs, it turned into Cinderella! Only she was really ugly, with hair all over the place and a giant mole on her tongue. She couldn't talk because of it, so I threw her away (what use was she?). But then she melted ALL OVER THE GARBAGE, the garbage became radioactive, and thus a giant machine eating monster. I tried to stop it, but it rolled into my room, and ATE MY LAPTOP OMG...
and that's why I couldn't do any schoolwork today.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
TRUTH IN ADVERTISING
I found this while shopping online last week. It gave me a grin and I appreciated their... ummm... honesty.
Enjoy...
Celebrate The Monitor Of Your Life
The hope on the face of a baby taking her first steps. The morning mist on the lake where father and son fish silently, together. Grandmother and grandchild sharing a hug across the generations.This LG 22” LCD monitor isn’t about any of these things. It frankly couldn’t care less about the special moments in our lives. All it wants to do is deliver a crisp, vivid widescreen picture with a 2 ms response time. But maybe, just maybe, if we evoke enough schmaltzy, sentimental imagery in this piece, you’ll reach down deep and give us some of your money.It’s about a young couple getting the keys to their first, humble home. It’s about the playful gleam in a puppy’s eye. It’s about a beloved voice from far away, ringing down the telephone line: “I miss you.” It’s about whatever will leave you emotionally vulnerable and wear down your sales resistance. We could just explain to you why it’s a useful, high-quality monitor, but that’s the logical person’s way out. We sincerely believe that if we pelt you with manipulative glurge, you’ll be that much more likely to leave your wallet open for us to plunder as we wish. You might not even notice this part right here where we tell you that these are refurbished and may have a dead pixel or two. It’s a slim chance. But chances like those are the gingerbread that people build their dream castles out of. So go play catch with your kids. Go dance with someone who loves you. Go teach an adult to read. Go send a “Thinking of You” card to an old friend, or make a new one. Through all the moments you treasure, the LG W2252TQ-TF 22” Widescreen LCD Monitor will be there…as long as you give us some money first.
Warranty: 90 Day LGFeatures:
22” 16:10 Widescreen monitor with 1680×1050 native resolution
2ms response time, for crisp and clear images
Support for DVI or VGA video connections
Capable of displaying 16.2 million colors with 170°/170° viewing angle
FLATRON f-ENGINE adjusts the contrast and brightness independently of each other
3H Anti-glare treatment
Certified for and compliments the look of Windows Vista Specifications:
Type: 22” Widescreen (22.0” diagonal)
Screen Aspect Ration: 16:10
Resolution: 1680×1050
Brightness: 300 cd/m2
Contrast Ratio: 10,000:1
Response Time: 2ms
Viewing Angle: 170°/170°
Color Depth (Number of Colors): 16.2M
Surface Treatment: 3H Anti-Glare
Enjoy...
Celebrate The Monitor Of Your Life
The hope on the face of a baby taking her first steps. The morning mist on the lake where father and son fish silently, together. Grandmother and grandchild sharing a hug across the generations.This LG 22” LCD monitor isn’t about any of these things. It frankly couldn’t care less about the special moments in our lives. All it wants to do is deliver a crisp, vivid widescreen picture with a 2 ms response time. But maybe, just maybe, if we evoke enough schmaltzy, sentimental imagery in this piece, you’ll reach down deep and give us some of your money.It’s about a young couple getting the keys to their first, humble home. It’s about the playful gleam in a puppy’s eye. It’s about a beloved voice from far away, ringing down the telephone line: “I miss you.” It’s about whatever will leave you emotionally vulnerable and wear down your sales resistance. We could just explain to you why it’s a useful, high-quality monitor, but that’s the logical person’s way out. We sincerely believe that if we pelt you with manipulative glurge, you’ll be that much more likely to leave your wallet open for us to plunder as we wish. You might not even notice this part right here where we tell you that these are refurbished and may have a dead pixel or two. It’s a slim chance. But chances like those are the gingerbread that people build their dream castles out of. So go play catch with your kids. Go dance with someone who loves you. Go teach an adult to read. Go send a “Thinking of You” card to an old friend, or make a new one. Through all the moments you treasure, the LG W2252TQ-TF 22” Widescreen LCD Monitor will be there…as long as you give us some money first.
Warranty: 90 Day LGFeatures:
22” 16:10 Widescreen monitor with 1680×1050 native resolution
2ms response time, for crisp and clear images
Support for DVI or VGA video connections
Capable of displaying 16.2 million colors with 170°/170° viewing angle
FLATRON f-ENGINE adjusts the contrast and brightness independently of each other
3H Anti-glare treatment
Certified for and compliments the look of Windows Vista Specifications:
Type: 22” Widescreen (22.0” diagonal)
Screen Aspect Ration: 16:10
Resolution: 1680×1050
Brightness: 300 cd/m2
Contrast Ratio: 10,000:1
Response Time: 2ms
Viewing Angle: 170°/170°
Color Depth (Number of Colors): 16.2M
Surface Treatment: 3H Anti-Glare
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Base Jumping Anyone?
My heart is pounding. I can hear the sound of my blood rushing in my ears. I feel the heaviness of apprehension and anxiety on my chest. I'm taking short, shallow breaths and the taste of bile is in my throat. I feel suddenly conscience of my hands and I squeeze them closed and then open and find my palms quickly become sweaty with fear. I reach forward and take the handle in my clammy hand and pull.
So began the first day of my job hunt. I felt the stainless steel over sized door handle slip in my hand from the sweat on my palms. Ugh. I groaned on the inside. The thought of going back to the land of the cubicle has me completely tweaked out on the inside.
Herb and I have talked about it a great deal. We spent months discussing our options. We really want and well, okay, need that bigger house to fit our business and our family. But it would definitely mean a life change for us. I would need to go back to work in order to truly afford it without pain. And if I'm going to work, well then I guess I should get one with good benefits since as self employed people most of us don't have health insurance.
All that said - that probably means going back into the cubicle farm. Going back to a place where I've had a lot of luck getting work because I'm pretty good friends with Microsoft and can run all your usual office machines and can dress and talk like a grown up. I thought it would be piece of cake.
But a strange thing happened on my way to the office. I got sick to my stomach and wanted desperately to go home and hug my kids and be hugged by my husband. Apparently over the last two years I've worked hard to build a life where I helped where needed and was a wife and mother. And I'm getting much better at it now that I have the support of a great man. (And he is a great man). I like it. No - I would say I love it and I'm getting better at it every day. I don't want going back to work to mess that up.
Plus - I've changed. My values have and continue to change. We are talking about solar panels and chicken coops and growing some of our own food. We've cancelled our Dish Network membership and we're buying more books. We are starting to "unplug" those things which demand our money and time but offer little in return. We've chosen to buy sensible cars and drive our old Subaru when gas prices started to climb. My new motto, "Conserve Fuel! Drive your ugly car!"
When I return to office life I will be exposed to a lifestyle on a daily basis I've been working to shed. I'm an easily influenced person and I'm intimidated by giant conference tables in window walled rooms with overstuffed chairs you can't lean back in. Well, you could, but you'd look ridiculous.
This may all sound silly to you but I'm reminded of the passage in 1 Corinthians 15:33, "Be not led astray; evil communications corrupt good manners;". I'm not saying that going back to work in the SUV driving, suit wearing, Bahama vacation taking, blackberry carrying world is evil. It's not. It's the belief system I had that I should be striving for that. That is is what I've been trying to shed. And as I've said - I'm easily swayed. But I'm getting better. Basically I think I will be tremendously influenced by those I spend a great deal of time around and I've become fairly picky about that. I'm afraid of becoming derailed from the direction I've finally found.
So - bottom line. This job search thing has me all twisted up inside - unsure of what to do. Not that there is a wrong thing to do. Just what is right for our family. I think it's the feeling I would get just before jumping off of something very high with nothing but a very small 'chute and a prayer.
Of course it could just be what my husband says.
"You're just freaking out because you haven't had a real job in years. That's scary."
My simple Nebraskan farm boy. :-)
So began the first day of my job hunt. I felt the stainless steel over sized door handle slip in my hand from the sweat on my palms. Ugh. I groaned on the inside. The thought of going back to the land of the cubicle has me completely tweaked out on the inside.
Herb and I have talked about it a great deal. We spent months discussing our options. We really want and well, okay, need that bigger house to fit our business and our family. But it would definitely mean a life change for us. I would need to go back to work in order to truly afford it without pain. And if I'm going to work, well then I guess I should get one with good benefits since as self employed people most of us don't have health insurance.
All that said - that probably means going back into the cubicle farm. Going back to a place where I've had a lot of luck getting work because I'm pretty good friends with Microsoft and can run all your usual office machines and can dress and talk like a grown up. I thought it would be piece of cake.
But a strange thing happened on my way to the office. I got sick to my stomach and wanted desperately to go home and hug my kids and be hugged by my husband. Apparently over the last two years I've worked hard to build a life where I helped where needed and was a wife and mother. And I'm getting much better at it now that I have the support of a great man. (And he is a great man). I like it. No - I would say I love it and I'm getting better at it every day. I don't want going back to work to mess that up.
Plus - I've changed. My values have and continue to change. We are talking about solar panels and chicken coops and growing some of our own food. We've cancelled our Dish Network membership and we're buying more books. We are starting to "unplug" those things which demand our money and time but offer little in return. We've chosen to buy sensible cars and drive our old Subaru when gas prices started to climb. My new motto, "Conserve Fuel! Drive your ugly car!"
When I return to office life I will be exposed to a lifestyle on a daily basis I've been working to shed. I'm an easily influenced person and I'm intimidated by giant conference tables in window walled rooms with overstuffed chairs you can't lean back in. Well, you could, but you'd look ridiculous.
This may all sound silly to you but I'm reminded of the passage in 1 Corinthians 15:33, "Be not led astray; evil communications corrupt good manners;". I'm not saying that going back to work in the SUV driving, suit wearing, Bahama vacation taking, blackberry carrying world is evil. It's not. It's the belief system I had that I should be striving for that. That is is what I've been trying to shed. And as I've said - I'm easily swayed. But I'm getting better. Basically I think I will be tremendously influenced by those I spend a great deal of time around and I've become fairly picky about that. I'm afraid of becoming derailed from the direction I've finally found.
So - bottom line. This job search thing has me all twisted up inside - unsure of what to do. Not that there is a wrong thing to do. Just what is right for our family. I think it's the feeling I would get just before jumping off of something very high with nothing but a very small 'chute and a prayer.
Of course it could just be what my husband says.
"You're just freaking out because you haven't had a real job in years. That's scary."
My simple Nebraskan farm boy. :-)
Monday, June 16, 2008
If a woodchuck could...
Too Funny not to share. This was our Father's Day card to Herb.
Go ahead laugh. You know you want to.
Go ahead laugh. You know you want to.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Father's Day
I started dreading Father's Day about a month ago. Certain... okay... many holidays are difficult for me and there seems to be a direct correlation between this and to my first husband's untimely death.
Some are worse than others and they sneak up on me. They shouldn't; but they do. I begin to feel an overwhelming sadness; nothing matters, I don't care about anything and I can become inconsolable and I don't understand what is wrong with me. My friends and or husband have to point out to me that it is probably related to Paul's death and feelings of guilt and unresolved mourning. This makes sense to me and then I begin the process of feeling more in control because my sadness now has a name and I can have it over for tea and get to know it better.
So, knowing this about me, and understanding that I've begun to recognize this phenomenon, you can understand why I would begin dreading Father's Day in advance. Memorial Day (usually falling on Paul's birthday) kicked my butt. I was deeply depressed for a week and felt helpless to do anything about it. I was worried Father's Day would be a killer.
I mean really, let's think aloud about it for just a minute.
I have four kids. Their father died after a long and severely debilitating illness that left him in a nursing home, on a ventilator unable to speak and weighing in at about 88 pounds the last two years of his life. That really sucks. These kids essentially had no one to be their dad at home for 6 years. And much of that time Mom was emotionally distant and lost. Kids deserve better than that.
Now - my dad - a whole 'nother can of worms. My dad is in prison for what I consider to be unspeakable crimes against someone I love very much. Today is also his birthday. He turned 68 years old today. Alone. In a State Penitentiary.
I think it's easy to see why I would be worried that I might start to get emotional at the least, or deeply depressed, at the worst, on Father's Day.
But here's the truth of it. I did okay. Except for getting a bit weepy during a Father's Day prayer at church. I did good. And do you know why I think I did good? One word. Herb.
Herb is my husband of nearly two years. I refer to him as my 'big hairy man'. Though truthfully, he's really not all that hairy. He just has a woolly beard.
Which I like.
And won't let him shave off.
Surprisingly he has turned out to be a great dad. I got the impression from his ex-wife he wasn't a good dad. I've learned that it apparently takes a good wife to make a man feel safe to be a good dad. So, she was wrong.
Today, I told Herb, "Thank you."
"For what?" he asked.
"For being a good dad." I said.
"I'm not a good dad. I'm just an average joe."
"No you're not. You 'Father' the way you do because you are actually interested in the kids becoming good people. Average joes 'father' that way because they don't want to have to get out of their chair and supervise or help. When you say no it's because it's good for them. Not good for you. Look where we are? You're here. Volunteering at the softball tournament snack shack with all the kids. And our kid isn't even playing in the tournament. That's awesome. It sets a good example."
"Oh. Well - I guess that's true." He said
"Yes it is. So, thank you."
And I squeezed him.
Really hard.
And He grunted.
But it was a happy grunt.
Some are worse than others and they sneak up on me. They shouldn't; but they do. I begin to feel an overwhelming sadness; nothing matters, I don't care about anything and I can become inconsolable and I don't understand what is wrong with me. My friends and or husband have to point out to me that it is probably related to Paul's death and feelings of guilt and unresolved mourning. This makes sense to me and then I begin the process of feeling more in control because my sadness now has a name and I can have it over for tea and get to know it better.
So, knowing this about me, and understanding that I've begun to recognize this phenomenon, you can understand why I would begin dreading Father's Day in advance. Memorial Day (usually falling on Paul's birthday) kicked my butt. I was deeply depressed for a week and felt helpless to do anything about it. I was worried Father's Day would be a killer.
I mean really, let's think aloud about it for just a minute.
I have four kids. Their father died after a long and severely debilitating illness that left him in a nursing home, on a ventilator unable to speak and weighing in at about 88 pounds the last two years of his life. That really sucks. These kids essentially had no one to be their dad at home for 6 years. And much of that time Mom was emotionally distant and lost. Kids deserve better than that.
Now - my dad - a whole 'nother can of worms. My dad is in prison for what I consider to be unspeakable crimes against someone I love very much. Today is also his birthday. He turned 68 years old today. Alone. In a State Penitentiary.
I think it's easy to see why I would be worried that I might start to get emotional at the least, or deeply depressed, at the worst, on Father's Day.
But here's the truth of it. I did okay. Except for getting a bit weepy during a Father's Day prayer at church. I did good. And do you know why I think I did good? One word. Herb.
Herb is my husband of nearly two years. I refer to him as my 'big hairy man'. Though truthfully, he's really not all that hairy. He just has a woolly beard.
Which I like.
And won't let him shave off.
Surprisingly he has turned out to be a great dad. I got the impression from his ex-wife he wasn't a good dad. I've learned that it apparently takes a good wife to make a man feel safe to be a good dad. So, she was wrong.
Today, I told Herb, "Thank you."
"For what?" he asked.
"For being a good dad." I said.
"I'm not a good dad. I'm just an average joe."
"No you're not. You 'Father' the way you do because you are actually interested in the kids becoming good people. Average joes 'father' that way because they don't want to have to get out of their chair and supervise or help. When you say no it's because it's good for them. Not good for you. Look where we are? You're here. Volunteering at the softball tournament snack shack with all the kids. And our kid isn't even playing in the tournament. That's awesome. It sets a good example."
"Oh. Well - I guess that's true." He said
"Yes it is. So, thank you."
And I squeezed him.
Really hard.
And He grunted.
But it was a happy grunt.
Friday, June 13, 2008
FRIDAY NIGHT at the DRIVE-IN & TRAIN MASTER
Just a quick note... I noticed something interesting while surfing the Internet headlines today. This article about one of the LAST TWO drive-ins remaining in Oregon. Reading the article made me feel nostalgic for a time period I really only saw in movies or heard about from elder relatives. I remember my first trip to a drive-in. I don't even remember what the movie was but I remember it was BIG and overwhelming and coooool.
But I thought it worth mentioning, just in case on this rare, warm and sunny weekend, you are looking for something out of the ordinary to do; there are lots of exciting movies out there and some of them are showing at the Drive-In. Check them out at http://99w.com/ or www.dallasmotorvu.com. It'll be an adventure. Take your honey, park in the back row and do a bit of necking during the "boring talking parts".
And if you just can't get away this weekend to play because you've got too much goin' on. PLEASE mark you calendars to support local independent film makers.
Train Master will be at The Hollywood Theatre. Train Master is the first feature length film for Phil Bransom. Take the kids - they'll love it. Here's a bulletin I received with some details:
"Based on the response for the June 6th screening of Train Master, we are in discussions for additional showings the end of this month. We are finalizing arrangements with Hollywood Theatre to show Train Master beginning June 27 running through July 3rd with 18 showings."
"The first weekend is the biggest for box office sales and reporting to studios and distributors so that will be our big push."
Fri 27 Jun 2008 07:00PM PT
Fri 27 Jun 2008 09:15PM PT
Sat 28 Jun 2008 01:00PM PT
Sat 28 Jun 2008 04:45PM PT
Sat 28 Jun 2008 07:00PM PT
Sat 28 Jun 2008 09:15PM PT
Sun 28 Jun 2008 02:30PM PT
Sun 29 Jun 2008 04:45PM PT
Sun 29 Jun 2008 07:00PM PT
Sun 29 Jun 2008 09:15PM PT
Mon 30 Jun 2008 07:00PM PT
Mon 30 Jun 2008 09:15PM PT
Tue 1 Jul 2008 07:00PM PT
Tue 1 Jul 2008 09:15PM PT
Wed 2 Jul 2008 07:00PM PT
Wed 2 Jul 2008 09:15PM PT
Thu 3 Jul 2008 07:00PM PT
Thu 3 Jul 2008 09:15PM PT
Now get out there and do something! ;-)
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Guilty Pleasure
Okay...I admit it. I like Battlestar Galactica. No apologies. It's not for everyone but sci fi is my thing. Not to be confused with horror. I HATE horror. But Sci Fi is awesome.
What can I say... I'm a child of the Star Wars era. It is what it is.
What can I say... I'm a child of the Star Wars era. It is what it is.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
GUT CHECK
Like many people, for the first time in a long time, I'm watching the presidential election with great interest. I'm reading headlines, articles, blogs, commentary, threads, conspiracy theory websites. This time I really want to know what is really going on. I have some preconceived ideas (who doesn't?!) and I would like to get past that as well as my emotional responses and make a vote that is truly the right one for the country. Listen to every argument, weigh them, sort them, run them through a sieve and see what's left and then make an educated decision.
Here's my problem; Most of what I hear and read is information on what a candidate did and why. I'm hearing precious little about what the candidate said and what it means against the backdrop of the America we live in today. "WHAT DOES IT MEAN?" is the question I'm left with after nearly every article.
I'm no political science student. The last couple of elections were little more than background noise in my life at those times. I've got an uphill battle when it comes to understanding, "What does this or that mean for America? and what does that mean to ME? and MY KIDS?" I need more input... but I don't trust the sources. Everyone has an agenda.
I have come to believe that more Americans are lost politically then we realize. My husband gets to talk to a lot of "regular guys" out there on the road. Some business owners, some just blue collar auto techs and he hears all kinds of stuff. You would be ... surprised? shocked? horrified? My favorite... one guy on our route says he won't vote for Obama because he's a Muslim. Must be because his name rhymes with that other infamous Muslim, I guess. (insert eye roll here) Another guy I know is not voting for McCain because he "just doesn't trust him."
"Why?" I asked - genuinely curious.
"I just don't. He looks untrustworthy."
Sigh...
God, save us from ourselves! (me first, please...)
Here's my problem; Most of what I hear and read is information on what a candidate did and why. I'm hearing precious little about what the candidate said and what it means against the backdrop of the America we live in today. "WHAT DOES IT MEAN?" is the question I'm left with after nearly every article.
I'm no political science student. The last couple of elections were little more than background noise in my life at those times. I've got an uphill battle when it comes to understanding, "What does this or that mean for America? and what does that mean to ME? and MY KIDS?" I need more input... but I don't trust the sources. Everyone has an agenda.
I have come to believe that more Americans are lost politically then we realize. My husband gets to talk to a lot of "regular guys" out there on the road. Some business owners, some just blue collar auto techs and he hears all kinds of stuff. You would be ... surprised? shocked? horrified? My favorite... one guy on our route says he won't vote for Obama because he's a Muslim. Must be because his name rhymes with that other infamous Muslim, I guess. (insert eye roll here) Another guy I know is not voting for McCain because he "just doesn't trust him."
"Why?" I asked - genuinely curious.
"I just don't. He looks untrustworthy."
Sigh...
God, save us from ourselves! (me first, please...)
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)