Here We Go

I think this was all a series of scenes dreamed between 6am and 7am. It was one of those situations where there's just a disjointed scene or three with a few moments each, but somehow in my mind as a participant in the dream, I knew all the backstory and complex issues involved in each scene.

And in all of them I had a broken clavicle. My left one. And I had one of those bulky neck/chest/shoulder casts on that side. Which I don't even think they do for that particular injury. I don't know how I broke it, but I recently had a conversation with someone about my somewhat serious June 2006 car accident, and they marveled that I hadn't broken anything ... so there you go, maybe my subconscious broke my clavicle in a car accident.

I don't really remember all the scenes in order or great detail, there were at least six or seven. But here are a few I do remember.

One scene -- I was in my old high school, walking down the hall between classes, past Mr. Milligan's room. I saw a few of my high school friends, but they all appeared roughly as they are now, not as they were then. Several of my college friends were there in the hall, too. And we were all in college together. I peeked into Mr. Milligan's room and Joe* was there, wearing a somewhat odd-looking suit (like the way the future clothes in Back to the Future looked, not specifically "wrong", but different somehow from our normal clothes). I asked him about his exam (true part, he has his first exam in his math Ph.D. courses at Drexel today). He shrugged and said he thought he'd done all right.

Another scene -- I was trying to catch up with Tony (those who don't know Tony, I can't possibly explain here the complicated subconscious ramifications of his presence in my dreams, and for those who do (or did) know him, well, you already understand how loaded that topic is likely to be, psychologically). We were still in the same school situation, but it was a different day, I think. Still with the cast on my shoulder/neck. I kept seeing him just a few people in front of me, and called out to him, but he either didn't hear me or ignored me (not going to go there). For some reason it was important that I talk to him and not just that I wanted to talk to him.

Another (definitely the most inexplicable) scene -- I was visiting a Chinese whorehouse** (not as a customer, but more as a cultural curiosity thing). They were sort of like slightly sleazy geisha (yes, I know geisha are Japanese, but I "knew" I was in China). The proprietor (not quite a pimp, more like a manager) was totally ripping them off, lying about the take each night, etc. I sort of preached a somewhat liberating feminist lesson to them, and they kind of unionized and kicked out the management. I remember in the dream being a bit worried that there would be reprisals toward me or the women, but that was all brushed aside and then I was just as convinced that everything was going to be OK.

So, there you go, more than you wanted of my subconscious mind. Your analysis is welcome.

--End--

* I rarely if ever dream about Joe (or recall them anyway) when he's around. I dream about him quite a bit when we're in separate states or something, but very infrequently when we're together.

** Imagine the Google hits that phrase is going to get me.

Coming Soon

After I get all my errands done this afternoon, the blog topic will be the BIZARRE dreams I had last night. Sort of one long dream that jumped around horribly, or many separate dreams with one or two common elements.

Stay tuned for -- a broken clavicle, a Chinese whorehouse, my high school, appearances by Tony, Joe, Mr. Milligan. I know -- BIZARRE!

--End--

It's NaBloPoMo

Yeah, what's that? It's National Blog Posting Month. So, I've signed up. Meaning I "have to" post at least a little something every day this month to "count."

Not sure what it counts toward or what it's worth, but as I believe in writing for writing's sake. And, as I believe that writing is a habit worth fostering, well ... here goes.

A whole month of posts (daily!) from yours truly starts now.

--End--

Bobcat Badge

Matthew received his Bobcat Badge last night in Cub Scouts. Yay!

I lead the Tiger Cub Den of our Pack. Colby, Dylan, Matthew, Matthew and Matthew (I wish I were kidding). All but Colby completed the badge requirements, and I think he'll be getting it at the November Pack Meeting.

Cub Scouts works a bit differently than it did when I was a kid. Nowadays, you can start in 1st grade into a Tiger Cub den, in 2nd grade into a Wolf Den, 3rd grade a Bear Den, and 4th and 5th grades are in Webelos. But, all new Cub Scouts, regardless of age, must first earn their Bobcat Badge before earning their own Den badge requirements. And, if you start in a Wolf Den (etc), you may not go back and complete the lower level badges. You start with Bobcat and then go on to complete your current year badge.

For those keeping score at home, the current Bobcat Badge requirements are to be able to recite the Cub Scout Promise, Law of the Pack, and motto and demonstrate the Cub Scout sign, handshake, and salute. There's also a discussion on preventing child abuse, etc that's outlined in the guidebook that the scout must have with his Adult Partner.

--End--

Trick-or-Treat!

Well, the Great Candy Haul is complete for this year. And the kids did pretty well. See?

Emily was a robot (built it myself, I'm so proud!).

And Matthew was a prince (a costume he picked based on being allowed to carry a sword).

More pictures here.

And -- look -- videos! Two of them, even!

--End--

New One for Us

Each fall our home is invaded by local denizens. Despite the best efforts of Ehrlich Pest Control and Dottie, our cat, we wind up with mice in our house. Just a few, mind you.

It used to be worse in our pre-Ehrlich days. We used to get millipedes by the hundreds through our basement and family room.

Well, Dottie sometimes brings live mice in to play with and they inevitably get loose and run under the 9,000-lb entertainment center. We catch glimpses of them now and then.

This one was a bit harder to miss. A mouse had somehow gotten into a half-full (half-empty?) glass of water. It was alive and just standing there staring at the children.

I wish I were making this up.

--End--

You've Got Meme

Four jobs I have had in my life:

1. Chi-Chi's bus-girl


2. Project Director at a major Pittsburgh ad agency


3. Elementary school teacher


4. Sports card sorter

Four movies I've watched more than once: (only 4???? So hard!)

1. High Fidelity


2. The Princess Bride


3. Monty Python's The Holy Grail


4. The Untouchables

Four places I have lived:

1. West Philadelphia ("born and raised ...." yep, Will Smith's neighborhood)


2. Glasgow, Scotland


3. Norfolk, Virginia


4. Pittsburgh, PA

Four T.V. Shows that I watch:

1. Doctor Who


2. NCIS


3. The Family Guy


4. The Daily Show

Four favorite past time activities:

1. Knitting


2. Surfing the 'Net


3. Reading


4. Scrapbooking

Four places I have been:

1. Portugal


2. Sequoia National Park


3. the Dominican Republic


4. Devil's Tower, Wyoming

Four people who e-mail me (regularly):

1. Dana


2. Rene


3. Ray


4. Steve

Four of my favorite foods:

1. Shrimp


2. Tiramisu


3. Filet with bleu cheese


4. Homemade bread

Four places I would rather be right now:

1. My mom-in-law's place in the Poconos


2. Camping somewhere with fall foliage


3. Edinburgh, Scotland


4. Cazenovia, NY

Four things I am looking forward to this year (in 2008):

1. Joe making big strides on his PhD


2. Paying off some debt


3. Planning a cool summer vacation (maybe)


4. Joe's mom's wedding

Four things that I like to do on the weekends:

1. Visit family


2. Hang out with Joe (TV, computer games, movies)


3. Family Game Night


4. Cheer Matthew in football

--End--

Costume Cop Out

Not that anyone's really waiting on tenterhooks to find out, but I've decided to go with the cheap, easy and comfortable option of ... scarecrow. :) The item at Goodwill that caught my eye was denim overalls. So, go figure.

--End--

Am I Crazy?

Tonight I was lying down with my eyes closed in a dark room trying to ignore my randomly barking dog. Quick clarification for anyone not having met my dog -- she's a keeshond. They're bred for companionship and watchfulness (involving a sharp bark).

Anyway, if she was quiet awhile and then barked, I saw a flash of light. Kind of a horizontal line in white tinged with red at the edges. Sort of red-white-hot like the picture. It happened more than once. So I started to take note. If I lay on one side, so one ear was smooshed in the pillow, the lightning effect came from the side of the exposed ear. If the dog kept barking, it was only the initial bark following a period of silence that would cause the effect. So the startling the nerves had something to do with it, though I was never startled enough to actually jump or flinch.

I've Googled this tonight and found some other anecdotal stuff of people mentioning they sometimes see a bright flash behind their closed eyes when they hear a loud noise (and a blog survey by a guy asking what people see when their eyes are closed -- colors, flashing, grey shapes, squiggles, etc), but nothing neurological or scientific. I guess I'm kind of wondering if this happens to everybody, or if there's something weird and different going on in my brain.

--End--

Matthew's Sick / Halloween

Croup and fever, Day Two.

Technically longer on the cough. But previously it was intermittent and now it's fairly constant. Poor little guy.

As for the costume for me ... I'd really like to do Holly Golightly. I'd need to buy a sleeveless black dress (Hello, Goodwill dress for $5), black opera gloves and a tiara (or other sparkly hair thingie).

I think I'm going to wind up wandering through Goodwill and see what sort of inpiring dress, retro something, liesure suit, etc. catches my eye.

Maybe I'll just wear lots of bizarre clothes in clashing colors and slap on the garishly horrible red wig, to boot.

--End--

Day Three

Just realized I never really finished the Tale of the 3-Day.

Day Three we woke up just a little stiffer and creakier than the previous morning. We ate a 5am breakfast again and then spent a good half hour or so doctoring and prepping our feet. I should have bought stock in BodyGlide, Blister Blocker and moleskin. It was a nice dark, clear morning, and I got to take a great picture of the moon with a few nice neighborly celestial bodies.

This day we left Fairmount Park for the last time (well, until next year's walk). We headed down through neighborhoods I don't know well ... through what's known as the Main Line (on the west side of Philly). Nice rich homes.

The people along the route were awesome today, too. Families set up pink plastic tableclothed tabled with pink-frosted sugar cookies and bowls of tootsie rolls. One woman even opened up her two bathrooms to walkers (which I took advantage of ... dang Gatorade. They tell you to push the Gatorade and not just drink water, to keep your electrolytes inbalance, but what they don't tell you is that when you drink it while your electrolytes are basically already in balance, well ... your body flushes out all the salts in a hurry).

The day quickly grew quite hot. Remember, a clear dawn may be beautiful to look at, but it bodes for a sun-beating-down-on-the-sidewalk kind of day. We pased by a closed Rita's Water Ice stand and almost cried. Then we saw "Pop's Water Ice" open for business! Wooo! Jen got lemon and I had strawberry lemonade. Just enough cool and refreshing to get us to our last Pit Stop of the walk.

Lunch was late this day. Not until mile 13. And after the longest stretch of unbroken walk of the whole weekend (3.5 miles). And after a series of long uphills. We were beat by then. And were happy to take the advice of experienced walkers. We figured how long the last 2.5 miles ot the finish were going to take and hung out at lunch until it was time to go. There's really nothing to do at the finish but wait for the final walkers so the Closing Ceremony can commence, and there's limited shade. Not somewhere good to hang out for a long time.

Jen and I left there with my friend, Dana's, team. It was really fun to walk with Dana for awhile.

The last mile or so was lined with cheering friends and family. We saw Lisa, the yellow car lady, one last time. I was starting to feel pretty proud and emotional. Jen looked beat and I kept being as chipper as I could. But I could really start to feel the emotion rising up. Finally we saw the finish area just ahead. I took a quick picture and kept going, trying not to burst into tears.

Then I saw the Odd Couple/Pink-Haired Guys. I lost it. Completely. As I sobbed (with joy? relief?), they both gave me a giant hug and told me how proud they were. WAAAAA!

Jen and I walked through the finish together, got scanned for one last time and picked up our Victory Shirts and pink roses. Then we both took turns on her cell trying to reach our significant others who were to meet us for the Closing Ceremonies. For the record, her Tom was there WAY early and came to visit us. Joe underestimated the traffic, so I didn't get to see him and the kids until after everything ended (though they did make it in time for the ceremonies).

We all lined up (6 people wide), with the survivors in their pink shirts in a separate group. The crew formed a sort of hallway for us to pass through while they cheered madly and then we entered a longer "hallway" of supporters also cheering madly while upbeat Celtic-ish music played everywhere. We waved to the supporters we'd recognized throughout the walk, we hugged, we cried a bit, and then we all shuffled into a big standing space in front of a stage (with a smaller round stage in the middle of the area, just like in the Opening Ceremonies).

Then the crew entered, and we all cheered madly for them. Then the survivors were announced. There was still cheering, but it definitely had a different quality to it. It kind of got quieter and then we all noticed people removing and holding up one sneaker (so, being lemmings, we did it too). It was an incredibly moving salute. I mean, after all ... the survivors are the inspiration for all of us, why we were all there.

Moving speeches, "you're all amazing" type talk (which we are). Jokes about portapotties, etc. Then it was over.

I finally made my way over to Joe and the kids and started crying again.

The rest is serious denouement. Dana and I waited outside the parking garage for about 35 minutes while Joe went for the van. We drove the hour or so home and went to Lonestar Steakhouse for a congratulatory meal. Looking mighty scrungy, I might add. I explained to the hostesses that we'd just, *just* walked 60 miles in 3 days to beat breast cancer and they were all, "Really???? No way!"

Way.

Mick, the manager, bought us each a drink. It did wonderful things to relax all those stiff muscles made even stiffer by the ride in the van.

It was weird. One solid night's sleep in my own bed later, and I hardly felt as though I'd done it. It was already fading a bit. My legs were a bit stiff and my feet were a bit sore, but nothing bad. By the second day when I returned to work (thank you Christopher Columbus!), I really felt basically fine. That whole next week I fell asleep watching tv by about 9pm, so I know I was recuperating. And I caught a cold or something and stayed home from work on Friday. But basically ... I kind of feel like I could already do it all over again.

Which I'm going to do. But not until October 2008.

--End--

Knitting Technology

Combining knitting and computers ... woooo! What could be better???

I'm now a part of Ravelry.com, a currently beta-testing, but soon open to all needle-crafting community.

--End--

ps. Yeah, that's an actual sweater I actually made. My first project that involved being accurate to make sure it would fit someone (Joe) when it was all done. Before that, it was all scarves and afghans.

Costume Ideas?

OK, every year for the past four or five, I've dressed as Harry Potter for Halloween. And for school, I'll probably do the same thing again this year. It was kind of a no-brainer costume for us. I mean, Joe has long black robes for commencement, anyway. Mom knitted us a red and gold scarf, we bought a red and gold striped tie. I wear my glasses instead of contacts. A little lip liner scar later ... et voila!

Anyway, we're going to our friends' house for a Halloween party following trick-or-treating and I don't want to wear the same costume I wore last year (the Harry Potter). I also don't want to go out and buy or rent a costume. I like to make them myself, preferably at minimal cost and sewing effort (though I am willing to spend some and/or sew some).

Joe went last year as Agent Smith (though people not inaccurately guessed "Secret Service Agent" and "Man in Black). I don't know if he'll do the same thing this year.

Emily is going as a rather complicated robot (not using the red wig at all, so I guess I could). And Matthew is going to be a prince (a selection largely made on the basis of being allowed to carry a sword). So we won't be going for a "family theme" costume.

Thoughts? Ideas?

--End--

Quick update: one convoluted phone call later ... Joe is going to wear his tux and go as the Phantom of the Opera.

And I Thought NJ's Jug-handles Were a Pain

Stumbled Upon this site of the world's wildest intersections. I can't say I've visited any of them, and after taking a look at this convoluted system in Moscow, I'm glad of it. To make a turn from Rosanov Street left onto the adjacent Khoroshev Street, you have to do all of this:I can just imagine how Google Maps would run through it. Or one of those car GPS systems. "Turn left in ten yards. No, not that left, dummy. Now you have to turn right and make a U-turn and then turn right again, and then turn left after one-tenth of a mile and then go in reverse for twelve feet, hop over the curb, continue down a flight of stairs, past a fruit vendor and then hang a left onto the street you should have gone onto in the first place."

--End--

ps. Google Map's version:

View Larger Map

Day Two

I kind of fell off the posting about the 3-Day thing, and it's surprisingly hard to get back into it. To even recall details.

On Saturday, Jen woke up around 4:30am to go to the bathroom. I lay there in my sleeping bag pretending I didn't have to go as well. But by 4:45 when she'd returned, I'd given up. One quick trip to the portapotty later (through a very dense fog, I must say), we both admitted we weren't likely to go back to sleep. We also commented on how refreshed we felt. I honestly attribute most of my stiffness that morning to sleeping on the ground.

So we had a nice hot breakfast, spent a good 20 minutes prepping our feet and got in line to start (and to stretch while we waited). The route opened at 7am. The bicycle and biker safety were all lined up at the start whooping and hollering as we set off. Becca and M'Risa joined us while we waited.

We meandered a bit through Fairmount Park and then M'Risa started lagging behind. Since her inseam must be a good 6 inches longer than mine, this was definitely odd. She seemed a bit pale and shaky, so we encouraged her to sit at the curb. She ate two granola bars I had in my fanny pack and started to pink up a bit. I'd sat down beside her so she'd be a bit less conspicuous sitting there alone. By this point three more team members (Angel, Robin and Megan) had caught up to us. Robin reported that they'd elbowed their way through the crowd in line so the "could catch up to their team." Hmmm. Anyway, once M'Risa had recovered we all started out again. And pretty soon, Jen and I were left in the dust. The others all seemed in such a rush, and really ... we didn't see the point. It wasn't so much their pace that bothered me (I mean, you can't comfortably adjust your pace for 60 miles of walking. You really have to go your own speed.), but their attitude was all kind of "we're going to get there first, what's wrong with you that you're walking like *that*?"

Whatever.

So, down past the Philadelphia Zoo, through Penn (where Jen went to vet school), through West Philly (shout out to Will Smith), right past Joe's and my first apartment (1022 S 47th Street). Anyway, I posted the rough route a few days ago. We walked right through the middle of Pat's and Gino's steaks in South Philly and stopped at a park for lunch. Then we headed up through South Street and the Historic District.

There were some truly awful right-to-life people hanging out on Independence Mall. They had giant (like 6x8') plywood signs with bloody fetus photos on them. It was positively dreadful. Some of them even made comments about how we're all on the "same side" since abortion causes breast cancer. Wha??? Causes??? (incidentally, recent giant studies don't indicate a link)

So, we averted our eyes and continued. I couldn't really come up with anything to say or do, so we just went uncomfortably on.

Through Elfreth's Alley (which I didn't even know existed). Past several Ducky Tour groups (the team right ahead of me got ducky quacker thingies, but they'd stopped handing them out by the time I got there). Through Chinatown. Past City Hall. To the Art Museum.

Yup! I jogged up the steps. Jen opted to stay at the bottom to take my picture. It was actually pretty easy going up. It was nice to stretch out my stride a bit taking the steps two at a time. Coming back down was harder. The motion hurt more and I was just wobbly and tired enough to feel a bit leery about going down.

Then there was a looong stretch on West River Drive. We had a nice view of Boathouse Row and there was some sort of rowing regatta going on further upstream. Most mostly, honestly ... it was kind of boring. Just more walking and walking and walking. Jen and I were both too tired to really chat much, and we were both pretty worn out. And ... there was something draining about knowing that all that walking was just leading us back to camp. Where we'd started the day in the first place.

(They used to run the routed in long stretches, all strung out, one day after the other. But it costs the 3-Day $100,000 per event to move the camp to a new location. So, by making the second day a loop, they save $1.2 million annually.)

We wound up back at camp eventually, had a nice dinner and I finally ran into my just-about-best-friend, Dana. We'd ridden up to Willow Grove together and I hadn't seen her since we parted ways with our separate teams at the mall. Jen and I ate dinner with Dana and her team and we had a nice time.

There was dancing in the big tent that night. I know ... what???? I hiked up the big hill to get a night shot of the city. The air had cleared up a lot and there were buildings with pink lights on them in honor of the 3-Day. Pretty cool.

Then, off to bed by 8:30pm.

--End--

Shift Happens

We had a Back to School Night for Millville's Gifted and Talented (GT) program last night. Part of the presentation included this brief video. I found it fascinating. In the scope of the GT scene, it seemed particularly relevant.

How do we prepare our students for a world we can't even imagine? I've been reading a bit on the Accelerating Change idea. The principle that not only is the world changing rapidly, but that those changes are occuring at an increasingly rapid pace.

I mean, take a look .... granted, from an evolutionary standpoint ....

Anyway, enjoy the video and take some time to just think about the incomprehensibly different-from-now world our own children will take for granted soon enough.

--End--

Day One

We woke up dark and early to load onto the shuttle bus from the hotel to the Willow Grove Mall. Things over there were a general state of organized chaos. We loaded our luggage onto bus B (the row of our tent assignment) and headed over to get a good spot near the stage before the Opening Ceremonies.

The sun slowly brightened the sky as we waited. There was a group stretching session led by some blond Surfer Dude type guy and then the actual event got rolling. There were upswelling strings behind a carefully scripted to make us all cry speaker. Breast cancer survivors came in carrying flags with life moments and inspirational words (Hope, Discoveries, Birthdays, Optimism, etc). These were planted in the center of a small circular stage, and everyone basically wept.

Then the peppy music started (U2's Beautiful Day, The Theme from Friends...) and we started creeping toward a cattle chute opening that led out to the walk. Our credentials were barcode scanned by crew members and more crew members and safety patrol people and friends and family whooped and hollered and sent us on our way.

I don't remember too many specifics about the walk. We mostly didn't stay with our team (we didn't all walk at the same pace, for one thing ... and some of them really seemed to have an agenda, which really wasn't my mindset for the event). Jen and I stuck together and we were sort of with five others of our team for most of the day. We first saw the Odd Couple and the Yellow Car Lady early this morning, and they became total highlights throughout the weekend.

Every 2-3 miles were Pit Stops (snacky food, water & Gatorade, port-a-potties and a medical tent) or Grab-n-Go's (same thing but no medical tent). There was a designated cheering station each morning and efternoon. Lunch was a bag lunch style in a park. First step after getting food -- take off your shoes and socks! Then eat, re-prep your feet, potty and head back out. Informal.

We passed through some gorgeous neighborhoods and some absolutely enormous homes. We trailed on along the Wissahickon Creek and meandered for 22 miles to Fairmount Park. Our first glimpse of camp was fabulously rewarding.

And, when Jen and I got to camp, they barcode scanned us again. We found our tent spot assignment (B68 for anyone keeping score at home) and LO AND BEHOLD! Our tent was already set up and decorated for us. Jen's mom was a crew volunteer at camp and she'd done it all for us. It was like Scarlett O'Hara coming home to Tara. Never was any home dearer to us than that pink dome tent at that moment. While others were struggling with their set-up, we strolled over and had our spaghetti dinner.

After that it was time to shower, ready our gear for the rest of the weekend, lay out our sleeping mats and sleeping bags, meet and greet a bit, and then collapse to sleep (around 8:30pm).

The day (like all 3-Day days) consisted of walking, eating, peeing, drinking, talking and sleeping. Very simple.

--End--

Local News Coverage

The networks and various other local media outlets all had cameras and reporters all over the place throughout the walk. We saw them everywhere.

Anyway, here's a clip from CBS Philly. I'm not pictured in it, but when you see my partner Jen waving (the back of her shirt has our PAWS for the Cure logo), you can hear me saying "Thank you SO much!" And, my friend Dana's team is the second group pictured with Elvis. They're in there walking also.

--End--

Thursday Night, Day Zero

The day started on a rocky note when both Emily and Joe woke up with fevers. She stayed home from school with him, but he had a 12:30 class -- a good two hours before I'd be home. Joe called his mom to come down even earlier than she'd already planned. And she did, so things worked out there.

I left school at 2pm and drove home to load my van. Picked up my friend, Dana, around 3pm and we headed up to Sewell, NJ to meet up with some of our team, and our team captain's husband Tom. Met up with SK and M'Risa (and Tom) and headed up to Willow Grove to our hotel.

Got there safe and sound (sadly we weren't able to get the Woodchuck Cider truck to pull over and offer us free samples). Met up with our other overnighting teammates and divvied up the two hotel rooms. As we were all starving, we headed on over to Carrabba's for some serious Carb Loading.

Our waiter, Jason, announced it was only his 2nd day flying solo as soon as he came up to our table. He was very nice, but obviously nervous and inexperienced. We ordered some wine and lots of glasses of ice water (this is an important detail). We wanted to pre-hydrate as much as possible. There were eight of us somewhat smooshed around two small tables pushed together. I saw Jason to my right trying to find an open spot in front of M'Risa to put her water down. So, I tried to help him out by picking up my menu and holding very still. This is where the obviously inexperienced part came in. Rather than pulling a glass from the center of the tray, he picked up the one closest to him. SPLOOOOSH!!! CRASH!!!! EEEK! Six very cold (!!!), very full glasses of water crashed into my back, completely soaking me from neck to bottom. I let out a tiny squeal and held very still, trying to keep my shirt from touching my back anywhere I could. (then "helpful" folks started trying to dab the water up and pressed the freezing fabric into me)

By this time, we had the attention of Jason's trainer, the restaurant manager and ... well, Jason looked like he wanted to crawl into a hole and die. The manager gave me a free Carrabba's polo shirt (score!) and I went into the bathroom to change. I reassured everyone that I wasn't going to call corporate or scream at anyone. These things happen. And, we tipped him well, anyway.

After dinner, we went back to the Hampton Inn and sort of settled in for some TV and sleep. SK proceeded to customize her team shirts by cutting off the sleeves and making a V-neckline. She was doing a nice tidy job of it, until she gashed her finger. She did the automatically-stick-it-in-your-mouth thing and then pulled it out saying, "Doesn't seem too bad!." Then Dana cried, "Um, SK! You're dripping onto the bed!" And she was. Yikes! She went into the bathroom to clean up and the water splashed blood kind of everywhere. Looked like a grisly scene from CSI (which we were watching at the time, coincidentally).

After she bandaged herself up, the excitment was over and we pretty much all went to sleep. Alarm for Day One was set for 4:30am.

--End--

3-Day Pictures Posted

OK, there's not exactly a narrative or anything. I promise to post actual anecdotes soon, when I've had some time to absorb and process all of this. It's pretty huge and I'm not sure I can ever adequately describe it.

But, I do have all my pictures posted and captioned on Picasa Web. Hop on over there and take a look.

--End--

WOOOOOOO!!!!!

I did it! I walked it. The whole thing. 60 miles around and through Philadelphia.

I'll have tons of pictures, comments and details eventually. It's a little weird coming back to real life. I heard a quote on NPR about troops returning from Iraq and it totally applies to how I feel right now. "Being there was hard, but very simple. You did what you were told -- what you had to do. Life at home is easy, but very complicated." I feel kind of overwhelmed, to say the least.

Anyway, sneak preview... stay tuned for stories about Yellow Car Lady, The Odd Couple, swamp ass (sorry mom, but that's what everyone called it), 3-Day Rash, PB&J graham crackers, Crazy Flag Guy, the wonderful support of families along our route, the bizarre natural phenomenon of walking 20 miles in and around Philadelphia ALL uphill, the bliss of a lawn sprinkler across a sidewalk, and naturally ... lots of pictures.

Finally, this was (roughly) our route on Day Two. I can't do the same for days one and three, because I'm just not as familiar with the Philly suburbs as I am with the City, itself. This is from memory and is bound to be inaccurate in places. But it's darn close. And the mileage came out right, so I'm going to go with it. Click in to zoom around and see more detail. We hit a lot of Philly's highlights all in one day.

--End--

ps. Thinking of doing the Washington DC walk next year. Depends on what my friends and I work out for teams and scheduling. Not going to join the same team as last year, except maybe for my friend Jen, with whom I did pretty much the whole walk.

Packed and Ready

My walking training peaked a few weeks ago before school started. I frankly haven't had enough time to get in a lot of miles recently.

But, ready or not ... here comes the 3-Day!

Last night I packed. I have 5 gallon-sized Ziplock bags labelled Day One, Day Two, Day Three, Evening Misc, Cold/Wet. And some smaller bags with toiletries, etc. My fanny pack is stocked with sunblock, my camera, Bodyglide, lip SPF stick, my credentials lanyard. My clothes to wear up tomorrow night are laid out on my dresser.

I crammed my sleeping bag, pillow, clothes, spare shoes, etc. all into a duffel bag and strapped (not bungeed! My goodness, the safety warnings against bungee cords were everywhere in the paperwork I've received!) to the top of the duffel.

And, it's all under the 35 lb proscribed weight limit.

Still, I can't help feeling more than moderately unprepared for this. I can't help thinking I've forgotten something crucial. Granted, I get that feeling before every trip I take. But, this is unlike any other trip I've ever taken.

Tomorrow I load my bag in the van, pick up my friend Dana and head up to meet up with 2 of my teammates. We'll continue up to Willow Grove, PA to stay overnight. We leave the hotel by 5:30am to head over for Opening Ceremonies on Friday. After walking 22+ miles on Friday, we camp (I'm thinking it's in Fairmount Park. They don't announce the route ahead of time, but mention neighborhoods we'll pass through, and I can't think of anyplace else big enough in that area.). Saturday we walk all through Philadelphia proper, about 21 miles, returning to the same camp site. On Sunday, we head south, down the Main Line west of the city. The Closing Ceremonies start at 5pm in Ellis Preserve in Newtown Square.

Joe can reach me via cell in case of emergency, so don't think I'm unreachable if anything happens. Pray for cool dry weather (so far the forecast looks promising, if even a bit warm). Pray for my feet.

Thanks for your support! (for further "Supporter" info, look here)

--End--

Nifty New Show

Last night, Joe and I watched Chuck, a slightly goofball but novel new show on NBC.

We initially gave it a try because we love Adam Baldwin (of Firefly and Serenity).

The premise is that Chuck, the head of the "Nerd Herd" at the local "Buy More" store (which sits next to the "Large Mart" ... yeah, I know) receives a message from ex-Stanford roommate Bryce, super rogue spy guy. By solving a riddle, the e-mail activities a sort of brain download/upload thing that basically puts all of the government's (read "CIA" and "NSA") most secret secrets into his brain. The original computer housing this info is destroyed, as is Chuck's computer, itself. So ... he's now the repository for everything the government might want to know about clandestine operations pretty much everywhere.

In steps a hottie CIA agent and a grim-looking NSA agent (Adam Baldwin, yeah!) to "take care of it." Mayhem ensues, naturally. The supporting work done by Chuck's Buy More sidekick, Morgan, is pretty funny in a Warren Cheswick-ish sort of way.

Anyway, we weren't sure how it would be, but it was pretty good. The camera work feel somehow different from the pack of shows out there, the casting is nice, since it's not full of giving airtime to a particular big star, and the humor is nicely paced. Hope they can keep it up.

--End--

Gosh, I Love My Husband

I just checked the voicemail and Joe left the most endearing message, which is impressive all by itself. He calls me from work maybe, *maybe* once every other month or so, usually to say he's running late.

But this one was just to be sweet, just because he couldn't be here for us tonight -- about how he knows I've been running around a lot today [to wit: work, Cub Scout store, 4-mile walk, football pictures, football game, Pack Meeting] and that he loves me.

But, that's not the best part.

He also left a message for Matthew saying, "I'm very proud of all you're doing and hope you had a good time in the game tonight. I can't wait to hear all about it tomorrow. I love you, son."

Awwww.....

Love that guy.

--End--

'Bout Time I Actually Write Something

Get a drink and settle in ... I haven't written for awhile, so it's a long 'un.


My job is odd.

I don't mean that in the "my boss is nuts" sort of way (That was back at Kröme Communications in Pittsburgh. Bob was the young, hyper, anal, blame the worker for faults, but take all the credit for victories, having an affair with the blonde sales rep temper-tantrum guy. And Alan was the Colonel Sanders goatee dyed black, drives a Porsche, picky but obtuse about expressing what he wants, kooky old guy.). And, I don't mean that in the "my actual job description is interesting and unusual" sort of way.

No, this is more a "somewhat undefined with tenuous objectives and limited funds working with a bizarre existing setup I can't really do anything about" sort of way.

Let me explain ...

I work two jobs at the same school. I'm a half-day reading teacher and I'm a one-day (7-hr) technology teacher.

The school is small ... about 120 students K-8, one classroom of each grade. The classes vary in size from 10 to 20 students.

For the reading job, I pull out two groups of third graders and one group of second graders. We go through the school's reading curriculum together. They're my students, as far as reading goes. But, I don't have a classroom, I don't plan lessons (I just do whatever's next in the book). I meet with each group about 30-40 minutes per day. It's relatively brainless as the text is very scripted, but by having different groups I actually get a moment here and there to take a breath or a pee-break.

Then, on the technology side, I work with each class of students (weekly with grades 3-8, as needed for K-2) to teach them keyboarding, computer terminology, MS Office type stuff. Basically working to meet the NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards for Technology Literacy. This is the first time there's been any formal technology instruction at this school. So I spent my first week designing and writing a curriculum guide for myself to use.

This week I actually started teaching the students, but not in our computer lab, such as it is (more on that in a minute). Just vocab and terminology stuff in their classrooms. Got mostly questions on whether we'll have Internet access (answer: yes, the school has a T1 line, just set-up this past summer...the whole surrounding area is dial-up for miles), and whether we'll be playing games (answer: no) or using Myspace (answer: definitely not).

Now, for the computer lab situation. The school has 6 reasonably up-to-date (three years old) in the library/resource room/Basic Skills Instruction room, along with a flatbed scanner and inkjet printer. I've purchased USB extension cables so the few tech-oriented teachers in the building can plug in their flash drives without physically climbing over the monitors (and knocking several important cables loose) in the process. These run XP. The classrooms each have a few dinosaur computers running 98 (eek!) or ME (EEK!). Most rooms also have an inkjet printer. These machines are all working on a wireless network and are broadband capable (though we have it turned off everywhere but the main office and the library, as there's not content filtering yet). Finally, the 5th grade classroom has 12 dummy boxes running off a Linux server in the cafeteria's pantry. Yeah, I know. So the largest lab in the building is in a classroom, whose students have to swap rooms with whichever class I'm bringing in to work on the computers. That poor teacher. I feel like such an interloper.

The Linux network doesn't talk to the Windows network. At all. The Internet runs separately to each network at the moment. The filtering problem is taking a long time to be solved due to the two separate networks running.

So, why don't we just get everything going nicely? Well ... the Three Bs are my problem. Ben is a parent and is also related to a couple of the teachers. He hosts the school's website and e-mail, but neither are live yet. Bud set up and handles the Windows network (not sure if we pay him for that, or if he's another volunteer). And Barry. Barry convinced the principal a few years back that a Linux network was the best thing for schools being 1) cheap-as-free, and 2) relatively unaffected by viruses, trojans, etc. (and he's probably right) He provided as essentially no cost the boxes, monitors and server we're currently running, so that he could have the chance to monkey around with a Linux network whenever he wanted to. We're committed to a certain number of years in exchange for his "generosity" (read: you get what you pay for)

They're all good at what they do and not bad to work with. When they're available. They all have other jobs and handle stuff for the school "when they can."

And finally, the School Board. We could have the whole school running seamlessly on Linux for very little cost, using smaller dummy boxes than we currently have (mid-sized towers), flat screen monitors. Little space, little cost, little security worries. Albeit with the slight weirdness that is Linux. But. They don't really "get it." They're not computer-saavy to say the least. And the concept of "free" and "open source" is considerably too out-there-touchy-feely-New-Agey to them. They want their kids to know Windows and Office and to learn the familiar world of Microsoft. Which is fine with me. I'm good either way. But ... if the Board prefers Windows, and that's where they're going to agree to spend time and money. Well, then ... we need to do it.

I'm working with the principal toward a mobile laptop lab. There is absolutely no space in the building for a dedicated computer lab. I want 20 laptops for students, plus one for me, an LCD projector, a sweet laptop storage cart with built-in power strips, a wirelessly networked printer on the cart, and either eBeam or Mimio interactive whiteboard units. She's going to talk to Dell and see what kind of NJ Dept of Ed deals they have going at the moment (there's always something). She has about $30,000 since she's saved a bundle somehow on busing, and also on my salary (I had been a grant position last year, and this year they fit me into the budget, so they have the whole grant to spend.).

So. My job is odd. It has the potential to be cool, and it's neat to be in on the ground-level of a program. But, sometimes I wish I had a few more years working with these people and this system before I'd be in a position to make suggestions of this magnitude. I guess I'm still a bit shell-shocked by my horrendous principal at my first teaching job. Not used to having my opinion requested and my input seriously considered. It's a bit heady and I'm constantly aware of trying not to step on anyone's toes or overstep my bounds.

Thanks for listening.

--End--

It's Finally Here!

Yes, that's right ... it's
International Talk Like a Pirate Day

So, by Neptune's beard, don't be a bloody landlubber, matey.

That's right ... throw out your native vernacular in favor of Avast! Ahoy! Arrrrghhh! Drink your grog, eat your hardtack and amaze your friends with your nerve and wit. (positive I can't get away with this at work, and sadly not even going to try)

Shiver me timbers!

--End--

A Passing to Note

Robert Jordan
(née James Oliver Rigney, Jr.)
October 17, 1948 - September 16, 2007

--End--

ps. Now we may never know how it all ends.

As Promised

Well, Ulead still isn't capturing audio, which I don't fathom as it's always worked before. But, I used Windows Movie Maker (ugh!) and then converted into Divx, but then it didn't work right again, so I'm back to a WMV file, which I hope works here. *whew*

To preface, we arrived at 12:30pm which we thought was 1/2-hr early for a 1pm game. Well, we had our weeks wrong. The game actually started at 11am, and we barely made it in time. Matthew got to play for about 10 game minutes of the 4th quarter (He's a B-teamer, so he probably would only have played that much even had we been there the whole time. His team lost 20-0. Ouch.). Still Matthew had some good action, making some nice blocks and getting a kickoff "return."

He's #54 in the orange jersey. I have trouble finding him in some of the plays, so don't feel bad if you have no idea where he is. I think the highlight is the post-game interview. ;)



Hope this works.

--End--

Coming Soon...

I'm going to post a bunch of new pictures as soon as I have a few minutes to minimally PhotoShop them (you know, cropping and brightening).

And ... dun-dun-duuunnnnn ... video, too!

I am working on capturing all the video currently on my camcorder. I've actually done it three times, now, but for some reason the playback has no audio. It's time-consuming and frustrating, and I'm rapidly running out of troubleshooting ideas.

So, hopefully when I get home today I can quickly get some photos posted and then work on editing down some quickie video clips (some of this stuff dates back a couple of years as I don't use my camcorder all that often. I mostly forget it exists. What I really want is to show the last-weekend footage of Matthew playing football).

So, wait thee with breath bated for the upcoming multimedia bonanza.

--End--

First Full Week

*whew* I'm tired already (and I don't think it's from the walking).

Mondays -- I work 8:30-noon, Joe from 10am-9:30pm. Plus I run a Cub Scout Den (about a dozen first-grade boys) from 7-8pm.

Tuesdays -- I work from 8:30am-2pm, Joe from 10am-5pm. Then Matthew has football practice from 6-8pm.

Wednesdays -- I work from 8:30am-2:30pm, Joe from 10am-9:30pm. Matthew has football practice from 6-8pm and Emily has Brownies every other week from 6:30-8pm.

Thursdays -- I work from 8:30am-2pm, Joe from 10am-5pm. Then he has a class at Drexel from 6-9pm. Matthew has football practice from 6-8pm. Emily has a piano lesson from 4:45-5:15pm, and then choir practice from 6:30-7pm. I have choir practice from 7-8pm. And if I talk Matthew into it after football ends, his choir practice is from 6:30-7:15pm. (and I'm told Brownies is moving to Thursday nights after the first meeting)

Fridays -- I work from 8:30-noon, Joe is off but usually goes to the office through the morning. If Matthew has a Saturday football game, he has a "walk-through" from 6-8pm, otherwise for Sunday games the walk-through is Saturday morning from 9-11am.

Weekends -- Matthew has a football game, which lasts about 2 hours, with usually 40-50 minutes of travel before and after. Emily has Kid's Club at church every other Sunday from 6-7pm.

And I'm hoping to keep up with my training and then switch over to jogging/running after October 7. While hopefully losing 5-10 more lbs toward my Weight Watchers goal.

--End--

Tired and Sore

6:30 a.m. -- alarm went off, got up, got dressed, drank a SlimFast shake, filled water bottles, applied BodyGlide, filled fanny pack with various paraphernalia.

7:00 a.m. -- began this walk, with Sasha.


9:30 a.m. -- returned home, took bathroom break, dropped off Sasha, refilled one water bottle, left fanny pack, mixed new iPod 4mph playlist, reapplied BodyGlide, changed socks.

10:00 a.m. -- began this route, just me and my iPod


12:10 p.m. -- returned home, collapsed on the floor, Emily removed my shoes, stretched for about ten minutes, blogged it

--End--

ps. 15 miles more tomorrow.

Brainstorming Challenge #1

OK, put on your thinking caps for this one and really ... if you're a lurker or a seldom responder or whatever, please post some ideas for me. :)

Due to a shipping error at a famous Mouse-iconed company yesterday, we received this wig despite not ordering it. (We also received this bizarre-looking costume, but that's another ball of wax.) I called and explained their error, and they ultimately told me to keep them or donate them.

So ... we're looking for Halloween costume ideas for Emily involving a red wig. Thoughts? Ideas? Inspirations?

Thanks!

--End--

New Nathan

Hey, I just have to say for the record that I have the Cutest Darn Nephew, ever. And I just have to share him with my readership (if by "readership" one means the coupla people who straggle through my blog who don't already happen to straggle through Chris' blog and have already seen all the Nathan updates as they've come down the pike).

--End--

You Did It!

Your generosity has just amazed me! Through the donations of friends, family and outright strangers, my required $2,200 donation toward the Breast Cancer 3-Day has been met! I'm going to be allowed to walk in the event in October (yikes!).

I was lucky. I didn't have to host any giant mega-fundraising events or sell half my attic on eBay to come up with the money.

No, it was thanks to you (and many other people who never come to this blog)! I appreciate it an awful lot.

Now, it's just up to me to complete my training miles, continue to prepare my gear and strengthen my body for the challenge of the event, itself.

Woooo!

--End--

ps. I raised my "goal" to $2,500 in case anyone stumbles upon my site. Don't want anyone to feel that their contribution toward eradicating breast cancer was unnecessary or unappreciated. But, $2,200 is my required donation commitment.

For the Record

I just love my husband. I mean it. He's a really truly great guy.

Yesterday at Lori & Travis' wedding, I sat there holding his hand (while he fanned both of us ... it was a muggy hot day in a non-climate-controlled chapel), and realized again that I would absolutely marry him all over again.

Then later at the reception, he danced all over the dance floor with me (he's a fantastic dancer, by the way). He's funny, attractive, so stinkin' brilliant, a wonderful dad.

I'm lucky to have him and want everyone to know it.

--End--

Mouth of Matthew

Matthew: Mommy, why did you paint your nails?
Myself: For decoration.
Matthew: Oh. You mean, for that ol' wedding? [Joe's cousin is getting married tomorrow. Matthew is obviously continuing his affectation 'that ol' preceding nearly everything.]
Myself: [taking the teachable-moment opportunity] Matthew, what is a wedding?
pause
Matthew: It's when you find a husband or a wife and you get married.
Myself: Is that all? What else?
Matthew: Well ... when you're gonna be with someone a long time and live with them and get babies.
Myself: Anything else?
pause
Matthew: It's when you're never gonna have to be alone.

Even if he never learns another thing about making relationships work, I think he's going to be just fine. Thus endeth your Warm Fuzzy™ for today.

--End--

Cat Haiku

Stumbled upon these, here, among others. Enjoy!

You never feed me.
Perhaps I'll sleep on your face.
That will sure show you.

You must scratch me there!
Yes, above my tail!
Behold, elevator butt.

The rule for today:
Touch my tail, I shred your hand.
New rule tomorrow.

In deep sleep hear sound
cat vomit hairball somewhere
will find in morning.

Grace personified.
I leap into the window.
I meant to do that.

The mighty hunter
Returns with gifts of plump birds --
your foot just squashed one.

You're always typing.
Well, let's see you ignore my
sitting on your hands.

My small cardboard box.
You cannot see me if I
can just hide my head.

Humans are so strange.
Mine lies still in bed, then screams;
My claws are not that sharp.

--End--

Recent Outings

So, in the last week, Joe and I met his Mom and her boyfriend, Pete, here to see these guys. They stomped all over these guys. Awwww, too bad, so sad.

I can't say I'm enormously "into" football. But free tickets to a professional sporting event are always well-received around here. We had a blast. It was so much fun. There was an interception run in for a touchdown, a nice long field goal, a seriously long punt by one of my favorite new players (what can I say ... I have a major soft spot for kickers and punters (and hockey goalies and baseball catchers).). But all in all, I don't remember much of the game. I think I'm a touch too ADD or emotionally empathic or something. Because when I'm in a big crowded stadium and there's that rumble of voices, the flash of the Fan-O-Vision/JumboTron, the smell of popcorn and just the general energy of tens of thousands of people ... well, I just have trouble keeping more than 10% of my brain on the game. I do much better with my pause-live-tv to ingest it situation at home.

So, don't ever expect deep sideline insights or play-by-play recaps from me. But, we did have an absolute blast (no pun intended regarding lightning-induced evacuation of the stands which added a pretty exciting touch to the evening).

A couple of days later, we took the kids (along with Joe's mom again, but this time also with Mom's cousin Pauline, who's the best) to this very awesome show at the Spectrum. They did a very nice job bringing in the science while still allowing time for oohing and aahing over extremely impressive and life-like (as far as I'd know) full-size dinosaurs. The climactic appearance of the Tyrannosaurus Rex mama near the end is totally worth the wait. (although I couldn't help chuckling at her puny little forearms, a la Meet the Robinsons). I'm also impressed by the narrator/paleontologist. He does basically a 2-hour monologue. No mean feat, that.

This week it's back to just chilling out at home (particularly in the wet and clammy weather we've been having, I actually made chili and homemade bread yesterday and it was goooood!). Posh family wedding this weekend to look forward to.

--End--

Animated Knots

Since I know several Scouts, climbers, sailors ... I present a very handy website.

Animated Knots by Grog™.

I've made a Turk's Head bracelet myself in my day (under "Decorative").

--End--

Public Service / New Blog Feature

AKA ... when I feel like posting, but I'm not sure I have anything worth saying. Slightly editorialized versions of recipes I like.

French Onion Soup Gratinée
aka ... Joe's favorite cold-weather food, ever

1. Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a large pot over medium-high heat (don't be skimpy, live a little ... the butter helps the onions do their thing). Stir in one teaspoon salt, two large thinly-sliced red onions and two large thinly-sliced sweet onions. Cook 35 minutes, stirring frequently, until onions are caramelized and almost syrupy. (I sometimes let the onions just barely start to stick to the bottom of the pan a bit, and then scrape them off ... the brown goodness scraped up from the bottom helps them caramelize beautifully.)
   
   
2. Mix one 48-oz can chicken broth, one 14-oz can beef broth (fat-free and low sodium are good for the broths), ½ cup red wine red wine and one tablespoon Worcestershire sauce into pot. Bundle the two sprigs fresh parsley, one sprig fresh thyme, and one bay leaf with twine and place in pot. (or just sprinkle in lame-o dried herbs, like I do) Simmer over medium heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove and discard the herbs. Reduce the heat to low, mix in one tablespoon balsamic vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Cover and keep over low heat to stay hot while you prepare the bread.
   
   
3. Preheat oven broiler. Arrange four thick French or Italian bread slices (slightly stale and very crusty is good) on a baking sheet and broil 3 minutes, turning once, until well toasted on both sides. Remove from heat; do not turn off broiler. (Quickie "cheat" is to just use large croutons, especially if the idea of cutting into a giant cheese-covered slice of bread doesn't appeal to you.)
   
   
4. Arrange 4 large oven safe bowls or crocks on a rimmed baking sheet (so you don't wind up with the abundant aroma of blackened sloshed-over-the-sides onion soup, mixed with the gloppy mess of drippy melted cheeses draping your oven elements). Fill each bowl 2/3 (why isn't there a pretty html code for "2/3"?) full with hot soup. Top each bowl with one slice toasted bread, two slices Gruyere (or Swiss) cheese and ¼ of shredded Asiago (or mozzarella) cheese. Sprinkle a little bit of paprika over the top of each one. (the cheese works best at room temperature, so get them out on the counter when you start working the onions, if not sooner)
   
   
5. Broil 5 minutes, or until bubbly and golden brown. As it softens, the cheese will cascade over the sides of the crock and form a beautifully melted crusty seal. Serve immediately!

et .... voila!--End--

Dugan Diversity

Visited the pediatrician today. Nothing extraordinary, just Matthew's annual check-up. Of course, Emily wanted to be involved in the goings-on, as well.

In any case, Dr. Patel is happy with their development. Mackie passed his vision and hearing tests just fine and is in the glow of health.

But, a visit to the doctor's office is never complete without checking the kids' heights and weights. My kids are sometimes two of kind, my eyes, Joe's build ... no one would ever not recognize their family resemblance. But, when it comes to the growth charts ... the differences are readily apparent.

Emily: 48" (8th percentile), and 44 lbs (>3rd percentile)
Matthew: 50.25" (97th percentile) and 57 lbs (90th percentile)

Oof.

Emily did have a bit of a break-down about it at the very end of the appointment, and it's my fault. When Dr. Patel was running down some basic health questions, he asked about booster seats. The kids both confirmed that they always buckle up and always use a booster. Then I blew it by joking that Em will likely be in a booster seat until she's 12 (they recommend at least 8 years of age and 80 lbs). She pretty much fell apart.

Any tips from anyone about how to help her be comfortable with her diminutive size? This isn't the first time recently she's commented on how she "hates to be short."

--End--

Winding Down

Summer is starting to wind down here at Dugan Manor.

The leaves on the trees are still completely green, but have started to take on that dusty, tired shade. And the yard has definitely browned quite a bit.

Joe has begun planning his fall semester classes and preparing for the busyness that goes along with all that. One of his colleagues has accepted a 5-year grant administration position, so there will be a new math professor filling in. Plus, the math and computer sciences Division Chair has resigned and moved away. So they've shuffled all the departments around. Math is now in the Humanities Division. Yeah, that makes so much sense. So, rather than being directly connected to the engineering or physics departments (the major subjects for most of Joe's students), he has to coordinate course scheduling outside his division so that his students don't have to be in two classes simultaneously. And, the outgoing Division Chair (who was pushing the envelope for incompetency and inappropriateness) managed to bungle some course scheduling and classroom assignments which directly affect Joe. *sigh*

The good news is, he managed to get his hands on one of the college's few Tablet PCs. He's been in need of a new laptop and really hoping to get/try out/permanently borrow a Tablet. Yay!

The kids have just about finished their summer-keep-them-vaguely-thinking-academically-workbooks that their elementary school teacher/nerd mom makes them do every day. Matthew's reading is approaching smooth fluency, and Emily is beginning to multiply quickly in her head. Woo!

And, last Friday evening we actually put on jackets and long pants to watch Matthew's football practice. Really started to feel like football weather. And for one my poor son wasn't completely plastered with sweat from head to toe.

As for me, I'm finally at the point where I can no longer pretend I have weeks and weeks to pull together and create an elementary technology curriculum. I'll be teaching touch-typing to the primary grades and MS Office, etc to the upper elementary and middle school students. I've never been trained in how to do any of this, but am expected to develop an appropriate curriculum and lesson plans, while spending no money on new software or equipment.

We just spent last weekend in the Poconos and had a marvelous time. It's just so dang relaxing up there. I could stay a week and just breathe the fresh air and marvel at just how many freaking stars are apparent when you get away from the haze and glare of South Jersey.

No big plans for the rest of summer until Labor Day weekend. Mom and Dad are coming down and we'll attend the Navy-Temple football game together on the 31st. Should be fun.

--End--

Christmas Plans

For a couple of years we've talked about taking a vacation for Christmas, rather than the usual traditional family visits. Being academics, we get a lot of time off work, but we have to take it when our various institutions "say" we can take it (Christmas, Spring Break, summer). And, since summer vacation not only means time off, but also No paychecks for me ... well, it's not the best time to throw money at a vacation trip.

So, Christmas it is. December 22 - 29, to be exact.

Yesterday I booked a week-long stay for us at Colonial Williamsburg. I've been there once, some years ago and even then we didn't pay to actually go into the buildings, etc. We're looking forward to giant 18th Century style tavern Christmas dinners, letting the kids experience some hands-on, up-close-and-personal-like American history. We'll visit Williamsburg, itself, of course, and also makes jaunts to Jamestown (this is its 400th Anniversary year), and Yorktown. And, Richmond and Norfolk are each about an hour away.

Likely I'll go into more detail as it draws near, but for now ... I'm just in the excited early planning stages.

--End--

Summer Pictures

Just realized I have a few pictures I'd meant to upload.

This set is from the month of June -- Matthew's birthday, a trip to McKean, Sasha 5 months old...


And these are from our latest endeavor ... the Holly City Midget Football League. Matthew is enthusiastic, if relatively unskilled. He has improved immensely in just one week of "Training Camp." Looks like he's going to be on the defensive line. Goooo, Thunder!


--End--

A Mother's Right

Pardon me a minute or two while I shamelessly brag about my first-born. Joe and I met today with the Supervisor of Millville's Gifted and Talented program. We reviewed Emily's WISC IQ test for purposes of placing her into the district's GT program (like we really had any doubt!).

Without going into specifics, suffice it to say that Em scored very highly. Like, 99.8th percentile high.

Anyway, we always knew how smart she is, but it's nice to know it's definitely not all in our heads.

--End--

The Duuuuugaaaaannssss......

[cue music]

Da-dum-dum-da-daaa Dum-dum-dum-da-da-da-DA .....

OK, Chris did it first. I thought I'd seen some reference to this on TV, but as we don't watch commercials anymore, I hadn't really caught the jist of the promotion. Anyway, Simpsonize Me! is pretty nifty. It took some tweaking of each character. Dark objects in the background were frequently misinterpreted as very long hair. Joe's initial Simpsonization was by far the closest of the four of us. I let the kids pick their own outfits.

And ... although my cat is scrawny enough to work as a re-colored Snowball, it didn't seem fair to put Dottie in and leave Sasha out. Because, frankly, my hairball-spitz of a dog could hardly look less like Santa's Little Helper.

--End--

Bloxorz

Wow! A clever and completely addictive game. Check out Bloxorz.

--End--

Done!

Wow.

Now it's all over. Have to say I'm kind of sad. Not because of what's in the book, but because it's all over.

Extremely vague spoilers to follow ...
















OK ... on one big point, I'm feeling a big I-Told-You-So, which makes me so happy for one of my favorite actors.

The epilogue was a bit meh, but I kind of get it.

Overall well done with a good amount of references to the past six books, generally solid pacing. But a few chapters where the back of my mind was wondering when JK was just going to get on with it, already.

And, finally ... way to be, Neville!

--End--

Gone Fishin'

Well, not really ... but Joe has left for work and I've picked up Sasha from the vet ... fulfilling my only real obligations for the day (well, I mean, other than parenting the kids). So ... for the indefinite near future, I'll be reading (and probably crying) and reading some more.

Back in a couple of days.

--End--

Furthest Yet

13 (!!!) miles this morning. In about 3 hours and 20 minutes.

Now I'm going to hop over to MapMyRun and figure out where I'm going to walk 7 miles in Cazenovia tomorrow morning.

--End--

ps. Our copy of Deathly Hallows is, according to the UPS site, "In transit to final destination." Woo!

"Ooh Shiny"

This website is just chock-full of nifty merchandise, gadgets, clothing available on the 'Net. Some of my favorites, below:

	Yes, it's a Darth Vader Popcorn Maker.
	This RedShirt pretty much says it all.
	Clocky: the alarm clock you can't lie in bed and ignore.
	I really wish this weren't so expensive. Design your own monster!
	And this is for the Truly Spoiled Wanna-Be Fashion Designer.

--End--

(and, no, I don't know why this is formatted so strangely and haven't been able to fix it)

Breaks My Heart

Emily and Matthew are supposed to go home with my dad today for a week of "Gramma Camp." They and Joe have been up in the Poconos since Friday. I just happened to call this morning to see when they thought they'd all be heading out, and got to talk to Emily. She was crying her eyes out, begging to come home. I know she'll have a fantastic time at my folks' house, but hearing her like that nearly broke me down, too. It doesn't help that I called up there to talk to the kids. I am missing them this morning. And to hear her just so upset and pleading with me ... I'm pretty broken up about it right now.

--End--

Something Completely Different

File this under: Things Not Seen Everyday ...

Thanks to Lisa for calling my attention to this story. Seems a wrecking ball broke loose during some work at our alma mater. Bizarre!

--End--

Support the "Cause"

When we were last up at Chris & Kristin's house, they were watching DVDs of Firefly. Joe and I watched a couple of episodes with them and asked them about the show. It seems it had been broadcast on Fox for not even one full season and network execs had been more than a bit unkind with scheduling decisions, fating the show to an early cancellation. Joss Whedon, the series creator, did his best to resurrect the show, finally resulting in a full-length feature, Serenity released in 2005.

Anyway, long story short, Firefly/Serenity fans (typically called "Browncoats") have been working to get the show reinstated somewhere, anywhere. And I have to say I'm inclined to agree with them. The show is smart, funny, clever, well-thought-out won an Emmy for effects. Definitely done before its time.

Recently I've been browsing around various Browncoat websites and getting some background info on the show and its fanbase. They're reasonably active (particularly for a show which only had eleven of its fourteen episodes broadcast.

I read today that the SciFi channel is going to broadcast a "Firefly Marathon" on August 10. Set your DVRs, please. Who knows? Maybe this is SciFi's way of feeling out the actual viewership for the show. Maybe if they feel there's enough interest ... well, maybe something might happen.

If you're interested in the sci-fi genre AT ALL, give the show a try. I really do recommend it. And ... even if you don't intend to watch it, record it anyway. Or tell a friend who likes that sort of thing. Maybe the SciFi execs will actually notice.

--End--

I Did It!

(rather ... we did it ... Sasha stayed alongside the whole time)

10 miles in 3 hours. Woooo!

--End--

More Than Meets the Eye

Yeah, just saw the movie. The effects were very cool (but frequently too fast to follow). They had at least a couple of examples of the old "transforming" sound effect I always liked. There were gratuitous American car company logo placements. The plot had a few holes. And while this guy always kind of bugs me (granted, that is his role in the film), Jon Voight rocks as always. But, man! It rocked to hear the old names thrown around.

Jazz, Starscream, Bumblebee (to this day I still want to have a yellow VW Bug, though now he's a yellow Camaro), Bonecrusher, Ratchet, et al. And of course ... Optimus Prime and Megatron. Yeah!

For the record, Chris and I once catalogued nearly all the Autobots and Decepticons (and Dinobots, Constructicons, Insecticons, etc) on a journal we kept at our sides while watching the show. Yes, we actually are that geeky. Wonder how many of these we missed. Heh.

--End--

Picnic Planning

We're having some friends over tomorrow for some grilling joy. We're going to eat, hang out, maybe play some bocce. The kids will spend half the afternoon in the pool, I'm sure. And Sasha will just be beside herself. As for me, I'll be cooking and then trying hard not to eat too much of the more fattening selections.

On the menu:

• Scott Hibb's Amazing Whisky Grilled Barbecued Baby Back Ribs (except I'm using regular ribs, rather than baby back, and I don't have any whisky)
• Marinated Grilled Shrimp
• Beer-boiled grilled bratwurst
• Bodacious Broccoli Salad
• Potato salad
• Baked beans
• Deviled eggs
• Fruit salad
• Carrots & celery sticks
  
• Fresh Jersey corn on the cob
• Beverages (Coke, Sam Adams summer assortment, and Killian's)
  
• Dessert (I don't know what Jen's bringing for the main dessert, but I also have ice cream sandwiches because they just say "summer" to me)

The weather's supposed to be fine, so we should have a great day. I'm not even sure if we're going to leave to try to catch any fireworks anywhere. It depends on how long folks want to hang out in my backyard.

--End--

Well ... woke up to a steady rain. It stopped around 9am, so things were mostly dry enough to at least occasionally be outside during the party. The food turned out fantastic, and I stayed on my diet (I plan to try the brats and ribs tomorrow after my morning weigh-in). Jen brought a delicious ricotta-creamy-vanilla-y mixture topped with fresh blueberries and strawberries. YUM! Altogether ... a great day! Not planning to go to any fireworks tonight.