VIGIL AT THE TOP

Photo by Annisa Lam (former member of Stock.exchng)

Licensed photo DO NOT COPY

Currently I am keeping the following in my thoughts &  prayers:

-----At least 17 were shot during a parade on Mother's Day. New Orleans. Thankfully, none of the injuries are expected to be fatal. One of the suspects is only 19.
-----The building collapse in Bangladesh...at least 657 dead. The victims were garment workers who were allegedly working under poor conditions with employers knowing that the building presented a danger.
-----A person I know who is in denial about the actions and intentions of so many of their loved ones. It is affecting their life and that of those around them so much. It just seems that they keep blindly trusting those they should be able to...but in reality are NOT trustworthy at all. :-(
-----This might sound like a strange or stupid question...but will the Toys for Tots program be affected by the Sequester?
-----The recovery from the typhoon that struck the Philippines. (December 2012)
-----Kyron Horman has been missing for over two years now. :-(
-----A family I know needs peace, strength and healing. I hope for the best solutions.
-----The Pakistani doctor who helped the CIA find Osama Bin Laden has been jailed for treason. A LONG jail sentence, too.....33 years.
-----Demarco Harris. A 13-year-old who was found guilty of murder. I hope that he is able to turn his (young) life around and that juvenile detention is actually beneficial. Demarco's case will be evaluated again when he turns 21. Demarco will stay in my thoughts and prayers until he turns 21.


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Note:

This post is in no particular order. Prayer/thought requests just go to the top as I hear more about what is going on. If you can think of a way to help these people, PLEASE do so. This post will be second-from-the-top during the midst of an emergency (such as an Amber Alert).

Note: I would not advise linking to this post...you will wind up with a broken link each time I have to change the post-dating to keep this a Vigil at the Top.

At JPUSA. Summer 2011.

 

PRAISE REPORT!!!
---Our friends found a new car. They really needed to have their own transportation.
---Our friend who had a lung infection seems to be on the road to recovery. Parts of this friend's health actually seem to be better than they were before getting sick!
---A friend's wife gave birth after a birthing process that was about 45 hours!!!
---A young girl who is the daughter of a fellow blogger was missing and has been found. Please pray for any healing needed in this situation.

The Great Sequester Damage List.....Well, it's not a great list at all. :-(

Licensed photo by Johanna Ljungblom.

An ongoing and growing list. :-(


----- House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is citing the sequester in the cause of a bridge collapse that occured recently.
----- A lot of damage to airports. Big delays. This is one cut that has been widely covered by the media.
----- Catholic Charities of Miami will be closing a Miami Gardens program that serves about 30 hot lunches a day to elderly residents of an apartment building.
----- All sorts of cuts to the benefits of soldiers.  I keep finding more things that are negatively affecting people in the military....it even goes so far as to include the timing for adoption of children.
-----Cuts to the Forest Service budget.  About half of that budget is normally used for fighting fires.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/05/25/3416803/federal-budget-cuts-caused-by.html#storylink=cpy

----- Slow-Cooker Beer-Braised Pork and Black Bean Soup

In My Life.....

----- There are a lot of homeschool conventions going on right now. I wish I weren't missing all of them.
-----We found a Dick Blick outlet store the other day. I am very excited about this. I am going to start focusing much more on artwork and I am starting to take a concepts and techniques class in about a week. My mother feels that I should sell drawings...maybe someday.
----- I am addicted to Candy Crush Saga. I play it in the little snatches of time when I need something to occupy my brain or relieve stress. I am on Level 75. I am happy that a good friend just started playing it, too.
----- The weather is bad tonight and we have diaper bags packed just in case we need to take shelter. The storming is so loud at times.
----- It is so sad to think of the children that drowned under the school in the Oklahoma tornado.
----- R.I.P. Ray Manzarek (The Doors).
-----I tried a quinoa salad tonight. It will take some getting used to but quinoa is good. I hope that Toddler will be willing to try it tomorrow. I am taking, and expect to easily pass, a nutrition and cooking class that is geared towards food for children (via Coursera and Stanford).

"Spread love everywhere you go: first of all in your own house. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next door neighbor... Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting."
-Mother Teresa

I was at a picnic the other day and during the conversation someone asked me if I had ever watched "Super Size Me." I have but I did not remember that well...so comes the re-watch.

----- I could have done without the McPuking.

This review is a post-in-progress. :-)

Snail Mail Holders and More

I am looking at residential mailboxes...one for our future use and one to point out to a friend who may need to replace theirs that keeps falling off.

The Whitehall mailboxes are nice from a utilitarian point of view. They go with a lot of home exteriors, seem very sturdy and don't rust.
~ ~ ~ The Whitehall models even have mounts with several boxes...great for landlords. :-)

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I am a bit puzzled by the personalized doormats. I haven't actually seen an aluminum doormat before and I don't know how one keeps them clean (or even gets their shoes clean). Hmmm.

I do know what coir fiber is as I have spent a considerable amount of time in home decor shops. I seem to be allergic to either the fiber extracted from coconut husks(coir) or something used to treat it when the mats are made. I did some research and found that coir is an allergen and there is often latex used in preparing mats...that would explain it for me. Still, if I really liked a coir doormat, I would just have Husband handle it and clean it. You can't be allergic through your shoes. :-)
~ ~ ~ I noticed that both the aluminum and coir doormats have free shipping.

An aluminum doormat that I like.
Filigree Rectangle Welcome Mat in "French Bronze"
Handcrafted and reproduced from a carving. :-)

I can't decide if I like this one more.
Mayflower Welcome Mat. I like the pretty gate look.

This is my favorite of the two coir doormats currently available.

personalized address plaques

MAILBOXANDBEYOND.COM

I like this song for some reason. :-)
Beautiful.

What Us Big People are Eating.....

-----"Perfect Beef Stew" is what we will have for dinner tonight. My first foray back into cooking all the time (since I was on bedrest and Newborn came into our lives). A slow cooker recipe.
-----Later in the week, I am making a three-bean taco chili with an emphasis on getting my Toddler, the picky eater, to finally eat sweet peppers. Currently, he is extremely interested in them every time and insists that he wants some but, every time but one, he chews them really good and then spits them out. It's a texture thing. I have learned that if I change the shape (diced and bright on top to be mixed in with this chili), make it a small portion of the shunned item when he is hungry after an exciting day, and point out when he liked it before....that works wonders. If I can successfully get him to eat two bites of a shunned food and like  it then we are good to go after that. It wasn't that long ago when all I had to do was say that he was trying new things like Sam I Am to get him sampling.
-----The chili recipe is actually going to be my version of a colorful dish emphasizing vegetables for a child . This is part of a class on nutrition/cooking for children that I am taking via Stanford and Coursera. There will be a few tomato slices on the side (which Toddler likes) and a glass of milk. We will follow this with strawberries for dessert (there was supposed to be plum slices also but we have to wait for them to ripen).
-----Fresh Garden Vegetable Salad with Black Olives.  Another one that I am going to try presenting to Toddler in some way that he will be eager to eat. It is a paleo recipe. The blog post I linked to said the dressing is healthy vs. "PUFA-rich" vinagrettes that are found at the grocery store. Now I must look up what it means for something to be PUFA-rich.
-----Beef Chili with Bacon and Black Beans. Pretty close to several of our standard chili recipes (other than the bacon). Still, I want to experiment with this.

Kudos to Husband for taking Toddler on a night drive to get him to sleep and to pick up all the ingredients for these recipes and other groceries. Husband said Toddler was telling him what everything was. When I asked if Toddler said he wanted anything...salad dressing. :-)
Along with a happy, sleeping Toddler, Husband also brought and made up my requested turkey sandwich. There was even a surprise bottle of Gatorade. Perfect for doing chores at the end of a hot day.
I love our family and our life.

---Reason for title? Newborn is a Nursie Baby. :-)

O Canada. O Calgary.

Tonight I was looking at a Calgary real estate site. No, I am not moving to Canada (though it would be wonderful to go on a getaway near the Canadian side of Niagara Falls for a while).

I am not familiar with Calgary real estate agents...
so, the site of the Cliff Stevenson Group was my first introduction to what buying a house in Canada is like.
---The Cliff Stevenson Group site has an accompanying video blog. :-) I hope that this portion of the site starts getting used again. I noticed that there are also 31 videos on YouTube (last update a year ago).
---Houses on this site all seem to be fairly large.
---The prices are $200,000+. This is not my price range but it does give me an idea of where the nice areas are for planning future vacations.
---This real estate agency actually keeps you updated about both feedback from potential buyers and developments in the housing market! The Cliff Stevenson Group goes the extra mile to make sure sellers know in a timely manner that someone is coming to see the house. :-)

I wish that all real estate agents in the U.S. put such detail into helping sell the house quickly and effectively. Sigh,

Things for us to do in Calgary:
---Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. Next time I listen to a full-fledged orchestra, I will be wearing noise-buffering headphones like my children do though. Why? Last time I listened to an orchestra, not only did my ears ring...but my heart rate also was abnormal the whole time. Perhaps it was because the performance was in an area that was too small for such. Hmmm.
---Calgary Zoo. Of course, zoos cause me to pause morally. I do support all the things that they do to help animals (that and the educational value are why we go). I am also hoping that we get to the Cincinnati Zoo here in the States this year.
---Firefighters Museum of Calgary. This would be great for when Newborn gets older. At the end of the summer, we are planning on taking Toddler on a trip to one of the fire stations here in the States.
---Calaway Park. Large amusement park. :-)
---Calgary Tower. The $20 cost is probably worth experiencing at least once. I don't know if children go up in this observation tower for free. You take an elevator up and one of the levels has an area where tourists can stand on glass and look down. The view includes the city and the Rocky Mountains. :-)
---Calgary Stampede. Huge 10-day event! Includes a rodeo, agricultural fair and exhibits, art exhibits/sale, a trade fair and a midway (among other things).




This video was for sellers...about whether the home is clean enough for possession day.
I disagree with Cliff on one point in this presentation-sometimes a buyer does appreciate the things left behind.
I am not talking in terms of a sofa that the seller didn't want but antiques and other items with great resale value may be something that the buyer will be happy to find a home for. :-) I think there should be a candid and honest dialogue between buyers and sellers about anything that gets left behind. :-)

Entertainment :-)

-----Men in Black 4 apparently has a writer. :-) Will you be going to see it?
----- One music festival will air-drop beer to attendees...using a drone. Will you be attending any music festivals this year? I plan on going to one music-themed convention and two festivals...none of which allow beer (or drones).

Big, bulky shoulder pads are the greatest invention ever. :-)

OK...everyone's blog is spying on me today.
Google gets more intrusive every day.

Apparently, Google/Blogger is aware of the fact that I listen to Midnight Oil and have done so recently.

This kind of data mining really made me angry when they made it obvious they were keeping track of what hotel I liked to use.

I have every privacy setting enabled, tracking supposedly turned off, etc. I am tempted to start inserting random "interests" like an obsession with shoulder pads into my life (yes, I did this out of humor/annoyance for a bit at one point).

----- A solar plane is taking a cross-country flight across the United States.

Homeschool Mother's Journal; May 3, 2013

In my life this week…
Doctor's appointment for Tiny One. This means Little One got stickers and a coloring page (a highlight and a new tradition for when he goes to his sister's doctor appointments). Our doctor is in demand so both children now have all appointments scheduled out for the next year! I really like the doctor as he looks into every concern even if he is pretty certain of the answer and he actually REALLY, REALLY interacts with the children.  :-)

In our homeschool this week…
Toddler  pre-school. We sing a countdown song about "5 Green Speckled Frogs" and look at a bullfrog picture. There have been several episodes of "Little Einstein" this week. Playing outside while the weather was nice for a change...slide, swing, getting pulled around on a cart (and talking about how the wheels turn). Reading a book that has construction vehicles that Little One has not encountered before. Put up a wolf poster (Little One got to pick the location...which, for some reason, was Daddy's dresser). I took a nighttime walk with Little One and we talked about the moon, the stars and worms (he just missed seeing a nightcrawler). Outdoor play with a variety of bottles including squirting.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
Little One and Daddy movie outing. Little One has been on a lot of "Adventures" (what we call short trips for errands). Plans for two music festivals, a convention, visiting family and the wedding of some friends.

My favorite thing this week was…
---Little One says "I love you" often now. He came up to me and hugged my back while saying, "I love you so much, Mommy."
---Watching both children sleeping. Especially if they are napping near each other.

My kiddo’s favorite thing this week was…
Little One: Playing with a variety of empty plastic bottles.
Tiny One: Seems to recognize name at times, interested in big brother and excited to nurse. I think she's a happy baby. :-)

Things I’m working on…
-----Learning to play the guitar for my children. I am taking a class and I aced the guitar parts quiz. This weekend I start actual playing.
-----Figuring out the arrangements for Tiny One's Dedication. I intend us to do a lot of preparing, both as far as the event and being spiritually ready, so this will be very educational for our toddler.
-----Little One knows how to scroll the phone and has a big technology vocabulary. I am working on finding some Android Apps for him. SUGGESTIONS ARE WELCOME. I am looking for games that we can play on the phone and ebooks for the tablet.

I’m cooking…
A vegetable soup with chicken broth this evening. We made a (wineless) veggie paella the other night.

I’m grateful for…
Two friends getting married, a lot of opportunities to be involved in various ministries, a friend has asked me to teach them how to blog for the ministry work that they do, a soft bed at the end of a long day.
---Little One "read" his first word yesterday. He had told me that the label on a mattress said "Daddy" and I told him that it said "bottom." Daddy was amazed yesterday when Little One walked up to the mattress, pointed and said, "That says bottom."

I’m praying for…
A new vehicle when we need one.

I rewarded my kids this week by…
Little One is seeing a movie with Daddy.
Magnum bar on the patio

Something I am ogling or have my eye on…
Copies of newborn photos for the relatives (Tiny One). Target Mobile has a coupon for 40 prints that expires today plus they are on sale....making my photos FREE.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share (silly, serious or both!)…

We like going to thrift stores. This was a find a while back.
Note: I said find...NOT purchase. :-)

Join this meme. :-)

They Said It.....

"The baby booby bird just earned three stickers and is dancing the blue-footed booby ballet."
~ Line from an episode of "Little Einstein" that caused me to pause.

"When I record somebody else's song, I have to make it my own or it doesn't feel right. I'll say to myself, I wrote this and he doesn't know it!"
~ Johnny Cash

The quest for the new family car.....and someday I would like a hybrid Karmann Ghia.*

I am taking a look at an article about hybrid cars while watching Les Mis with friends and family tonight. https://www.kanetix.ca/
This is a site to compare insurance (obviously including auto insurance), mortgage rates and credit cards.

Believe it or not, I only know one family who owns hybrid autos.We actually need to look at getting a new car and it would be good to find something that saves on gasoline. In my ideal world, our children/pets/travel would be accommodated by either a Ford Escape Hybrid or a Saturn Vue SUV.

The Ford Escape Hybrid
--- Boasts 36 mpg in town.
--- Is used by many taxi fleets (roomy, low emissions and saves on gas). Choice of vehicles is definitely important for taxi companies, especially those who feel any social responsibility about emissions...taxis certainly drive around MUCH MORE than the average car.
--- Runs entirely off the battery if it is traveling less than 25 mph (sitting in gridlock, for instance). This definitely means lower emissions. :-)
Amusing fact: In what I consider my home state, people  have an annoying habit of STOPPING at many of the green lights...so, I guess it would save on emissions then, too...sigh.

Of course, hybrid cars have better mileage (like 20 or 30 miles per gallon better).

Toyota says that the Prius still has the "best MPG of any midsize vehicle." :-)
What I find hard to believe is that the uber-popular Toyota Prius has been on the market for about 13 years!

Things that make me smile about hybrids:
--- Regenerative braking.. This means that the battery charges some as you are slowing down to brake.
--- The article that I was looking at on the Kanetix site stated that insurance on hybrids had dropped considerably (and that was written in 2007).
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The future is weird...
specifically, what might be your child's first hybrid "car."
I was just reading about the "i-Road" from Toyota.
This is a mix of motorcycle and car that debuted in Geneva last month. It is still in the concept stage.
The i-Road is a three-wheeled vehicle that is not very wide and can lean to the side like a motorcycle..."Active Lean" technology. It is supposed to be able to drive over uneven surfaces well but does not go very fast...30 mph.
At 30 mph, I guess it could be driven in some residential areas and, if there were no protesters who tried to pass new laws, on sidewalks. I am sure there would be some who would also try to drive it up the sides of roads, off-roading, etc. There might even be those who would argue that this was a vehicle safe for drivers under the legal age.
Depending on the price, I see controversy hitting a sidewalk near you.



One of my favorite bands (though this PSA and a female singer are not typical, in case you didn't know).
This video was nominated for the 2011 Grammy Awards. :-)
I must see if Little One likes this song now...in any case, it will definitely be good for homeschooling.

Hot Wheels.....
As I am thinking about hybrid cars, Hot Wheels suddenly jump into my head.
Why hasn't Mattel come out with little electric cars for the older kids? I would play with that.
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One thing I learned about car insurance..... (via the Kanetix Car Insurance Forum)
Apparently, in Canada, any licensed driver in your household should be included on your insurance as they might have access to your car (with or without permission). This includes children who never use the car and roommates.
I suppose that would cut down on a lot of insurance claim denials here.



* A Kharmann Ghia is the pink car that the female lead character Andy drove in "Pretty in Pink."
In my dream world, I would like a Volkswagen Karmann Ghia TC...it is a Touring Coupé which was not imported. It comes from Brazil and looks like an Italian version of a Porsche 911.

MEXICALI RECIPES.....

Licensed photo by "sistemart."

One of the most dangerous highways between Tijuana and Mexicali.
It is called "the Rumorosa" due to the sound of the wind in the cliffs.
Hundreds of accidents occur here each year.

Recipes
-----Mexicali Sliders.  Includes both guacamole and a spicy mango sauce.
----- Loaded Mexicali Chicken. The cheese is going to be the dealbreaker as to whether I like this...I will try it with cheddar, with Monterey Jack and without cheese. I am definitely looking forward to using the sauce as a gravy over rice. :-)
----- Mexicali Chop with Crunchy Tortilla Strips
----- Mexicali Enchiladas
----- Mexicali Casserole
----- Mexicali Pie

Intelligence, terrorism, giraffes and Olympians.

-----A student with Down Syndrome has been named to the National Honor Society. :-)

-----Landing gear that is believed to be from one of the jets that crashed on 9/11 has been found. I wonder if commentators will see some symbolic significance in where it was found at.
-----There are now 100 prisoners on hunger strike at Guantanamo. Apparently, part of what they are protesting is the conditions there.

-----Strange tidbit...learned via Giraffe (as in the restaurant):
Giraffes can clean their ears with their own tongues.


-----Apparently, San Diego and Tijuana...TIJUANA, of all places...have made a joint proposal to host the 2024 Olympics.
~ ~ ~ Does Tijuana have plans to clean up its reputation (and actual way of being)?
~ ~ ~ What will the "immigration" situation be like by then?
~ ~ ~ This is not the only recent pair-up between San Diego and Tijuana. Apparently they are becoming a "global drone hub."

Licensed photo by "sistemart."

One of the most dangerous highways between Tijuana and Mexicali.
It is called "the Rumorosa" due to the sound of the wind in the cliffs.
Hundreds of accidents occur here each year.

I am a sciatic super heroine.

Recently I read that TENS Units (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulators) can sometimes help with sciatica. I am a frequent sciatica suffer and need all the help I can get as it really affected me during pregnancy and has been an issue since. It was the same way with Little One (only just during pregnancy). This means that I have endured two bouts of about a year each of DAILY sciatica issues....pain relief would be nice.

Visit LGMedSupply Online :-) There is a 3-year warranty on all units, free nationwide shipping over $100 and a most impressive assortment.
This company even has an online customer blog.


Muscle Stimulators
I have a friend who is recovering from a surgery that removed muscles in her thigh (cancer). I am going to bring up with her that a device like this might help with re-education of what remains of the muscles. There is even a  LG-TEC Dual Combo TENS Unit and Muscle Stimulator that can also help with the pain that she sometimes still gets.


Of course, I am crazy and I will not let the sciatica get the best of me.
What do I mean by this?
When I get the go-ahead for full exercise from my doctor, I am going to start training for a couple of marathons. Apparently, many people with sciatica managed to successfully run marathons without aggravating the sciatica. I will research and I will be one of those marathon runners within the next three years. :-)

So far, I am planning on running two marathons:
---Walt Disney World Marathon. Some of the runs during this marathon weekend actually sell out! I would like to be in good enough shape and have a good enough sciatica-management strategy to run the last (and main event of that weekend). A race through all four parks will be a wonderful accent to one of the two Disney trips that I plan for our Little Ones. :-)
---Sigh. Well this may be the end of my plans for the second marathon. I wanted to run the Grand Canyon Marathon but the permit was not obtainable for them to hold the event this year. It is thought that this will be a precedent for future years. MAYBE I WILL JUST HAVE TO RUN DISNEY TWICE. :-)    :-)    :-)

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I read a tidbit that was not explained further but I will be looking into....most definitely looking into. Running can make sciatica painful but CAN POSSIBLY HELP IN TREATMENT!!!  :-)

Speaking of  marathons.....
Kudos to  the Key Bank City Marathon (Burlington, Vermont). They opened up 150 more slots for next month's marathon...to accommodate Boston Marathoners who couldn't finish. There will be no registration fee for those runners. AWESOME!


This post is a work-in-progress. :-)

Those who do not strive to be like snowflakes...Grumble. Grumble. Grumble.

Cloning doesn't just happen in a test tube.
OK...everyone has that one person who has to compete on everything.
I have six and ignoring them or removing myself never works.
Well...it did work in the case of a seventh person.
There is hope to get away from the incessant chatter that accompanies intrusive rivalry yet.
Being your own person sometimes means that others decide to be your own person.

What David Bowie Knows

"What David Bowie Knows"
by Thebluestbutterfly

Dragged through tunnel of illusions.
Vibrancy ceased.
A hand extended rough and false.
A hand extended rough and false.
Needs to ignore.
Oh, the places we will go.
Needs to ignore.
Needs to ignore. Tears postpone,hide,store.
And I will have more labyrinth survival skills than Bowie.

President Obama wants to tax cigarettes 94 cents more per pack. The money would fund childhood education.

A Walmart employee found and returned $20,000 to a customer. :-)

In My Life.....

I am taking an irrational thinking class (behavioral economics). I was not feeling well for a while and was supposed to take a quiz yesterday but then water got in the internet router. In perhaps the biggest irrationality of mine in a long time, I am still going to try passing the class. This is HIGHLY unlikely as I could only miss around 4 points and part of it is a peer-graded assessment (which can be so arbitrary).

Dr. Oz episode on anti-depressants.
A guest doctor said that doctors can basically do three things: cut, use relationship and use prescription pad.

This Coconut Cream Pie recipe sounds like it might be worth a try. :-)

Judy Garland's 'Ding Dong The Witch is Dead' is No. 2 in UK iTunes charts.
And then I find out the unhappy reason why...people are celebrating Margret Thatcher's death. Sigh.


The Air Force has begun grounding combat aircraft. This rotation of stand downs is a result of the Sequester.
"The current situation means we're accepting the risk that combat airpower may not be ready to respond immediately to new contingencies as they occur," Hostage said.

Sloth.....

Do I have time for drama? No.
Does it make time for me? Why, of course.
Does drama chase me even? Gladly!
Someday.
Sigh.

How to change or lessen the effect of certain elements of my life?
Busy time for me...a time that is supposed to be one of great wonder, joy and happiness.

Yet, the usual persists.
Imposing your preferences, priorities, projects you want to escape.
I am tired of the lazy and the manipulative.

I have taken the day to make sure my priorities are handled (creative undertaking since I am on bedrest).
I am sure you would have all sorts of YOUR ideas and projects of better things that I could be doing...if you knew.

Life's lesson to learn:
Sometimes when a sloth goes to cling to a tree branch, it mistakes its own arm for a branch.
When you find yourself with no one to catch you, the impact will not be pleasant.

We have a high school age friend who is homeschooled. I loved his Facebook status...
"Cut my frog into pieces. This is my lab report."

Via Chris Pirillo:
"Hoping to compete with Amazon, WalMart is considering a radical plan to have store customers deliver packages to online buyers."

Cool...Gordon Ramsay put on a 3K race to raise awareness for childhood obesity. This was part of a Hell's Kitchen episode. There were Olympians present. Apparently, Ramsay has run several marathons (something I plan to start training for after Baby One is born...I have two marathons on my bucket list).

I am wondering if there is an app for working toward water drinking goals.

In My Life.....

I am reading this for a composition class that is more intensive than any of the (many) others I have taken. It is taught by an instructor from Duke University. We are supposed to write a critical review of the first chapter. Thus far, I am getting a lot out of this book. It is talking about talent relying on intense, stumbling practice. One needs to find the point where goals are a growing, yet reachable, challenge.

Maybe sometime after Baby One is born, I will get brave enough to try Kool Aid Hair Dying. I think that is temporary, right?? At this point, I would only do hair coloring that is very temporary (I have an unusual natural hair color that I keep for sentimental reasons). Anyway, I noticed that some of the Kool Aid Hair Dye also uses food coloring and I wonder how that works as far as mess/coming out.
---So...I will now be referring to our children as Toddler One and Baby One. :-)

Waiting, waiting. Nine Inch Nails is going on tour again this year! It looks like first they are touring Europe...some of the dates are already up. It is the dates for the arena touring in the United States that I am waiting for. I could not attend when NIN came through the States with the NINJA tour (and I really, really wanted to). Husband has said that if the location is at all do-able, we will be going this time...I am guessing late 2013 or sometime in 2014.


While I am a big proponent of homeschooling, I don't often hold much stock with unschooling. I have seen a lot of unschooling descend into just a complete lack of education (with both the children and parents not realizing how little was learned during the formative years). I am planning to give this book a try at some point though.

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Sigh. I have forgotten about Lumosity for a while. I am particularly doing the brain games on here to try improving my peripheral vision (I don't really have any). There seems to be some improvement. I am also noticing weird things...the eye that is functionally blind sometimes still sees the memory games though I am not consciously paying attention.
---I have a weird catching ability like this that amazes people. I can catch things very suddenly and quickly though I do not seem to be looking at them at all. In fact, I am a very good catcher...only when I don't see it coming.

So, apparently one of Charlie Chaplin's half brothers, Sydney, quit acting and fled to America when he was (justifiably) accused of biting an actress's nipple off in a sexual assault.
---Pretty sure this will be the strangest thing I learn all day.

Other than the Navy, all branches of the military are enduring suspension of Tuition Assistance (as a result of The Sequester). One of the petitions protesting this, which is still sign-able,  has reached the 100,000 signatures required to get a formal response from the White House.


"For their service and sacrifice, warm words of thanks from a grateful nation are more than warranted, but they aren't nearly enough. We also owe our veterans the care they were promised and the benefits that they have earned. We have a sacred trust with those who wear the uniform of the United States of America. It's a commitment that begins at enlistment, and it must never end. But we know that for too long, we've fallen short of meeting that commitment. Too many wounded warriors go without the care that they need. Too many veterans don't receive the support that they've earned. Too many who once wore our nation's uniform now sleep in our nation's streets."
-PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, MARCH 19, 2009

Rapunzel needs more hair.

So, I just got my hair cut....and it was LONG. I needed to get rid of split ends (and wanted it to look groomed). Now, I need  101 ways to make my hair grow faster. :-) I was very fond of my long hair but the cut had to be done....anyway, now I am wondering how pregnancy and my thyroid issues are going to affect regrowth.

Tips and thoughts (Speedyremedies.com):
--- A nice reminder....oily hair can become worse when always washed daily.
--- I am a bit leery of the idea of putting minced onion in my shampoo (or anywhere near my nose/eyes). Hmm. I must look into this.
---Green tea capsules. From what I have read these are high in antioxidants and also have way less caffeine than their liquid counterparts.

Home remedies to make hair grow faster
---Anything involving alfalfa juice or beetroot juice is something that I have never experimented with. Perhaps I should look for recipes.
---Rest is one of the simpler things that can be done...hair grows quicker while one is at rest.
:-) Getting your "crowning beauty" sleep.

Home remedies for hair growth
---"Oiling in long hair is a must." This I did not know. I looked on YouTube and discovered there are several articles on "extreme oiling."

“WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE: RAPUNZEL

For horse thieving, kidnapping, jail breaking, and using her hair in a manner other than nature intended!
REWARD” 
― Shannon Hale, Rapunzel's Revenge

Our toddler's thought processes fascinate me.
Yesterday, he randomly said "Halloween, Halloween. More candy."

I like the new pope's choice of name (Francis).
The first time I saw his picture, with him holding his hand up kind of splayed, I wanted to Photoshop him into doing the Vulcan Salute...live long and prosper.

The Hamptons can be for drums and dancing, too. :-)

The Hamptons are, of course, known for having some of the most expensive homes (in the United States). This is why I would rent a property if I am ever able to go there.

And why would I want to go to the Hamptons?
August 30-September 2 of this year, there is a very LARGE powwow being put on by the Shinnecock Indian Nation. It is a longstanding powwow (since the late 1940s)! If/when I ever get to this event, contacting a real estate agent in the Hamptons might be a good idea-the rentals there are actually a surprising range of prices in the off season (if one looks through listings).

What I like about the Shinnecock nation/powow:
-----The powwow would have a lot of educational aspects for Little Ones. It is considered one of America's 10 great powwows (USA Today).
-----In past years, this powwow has been held rain or shine. I am assuming that there is an indoor venue if it is needed. In addition to the performances, there are crafts, vendors and native food.
-----As far as I can tell, this is a tribe that does not have a casino yet. There have been proposals but no casino. Being casino-less seems to me like it might be a good idea in many ways. :-)
-----They were once known for being heroes of the sea. Fishermen and even whalers! I am sure there are fascinating stories to go with this time period and I would like to find some of those to read.

I would love to attend some sort of Church Service on the Shinnecock Reservation. While I have known many "civilized Indians," I was surprised to learn of the religious history of this particular group. The Shinnecock are Presbyterian...actually the oldest reformed Indian congregation in the U.S. (since the 1600s).
---A thing I admire about their Church is the fact that the children are taught bits of responsibility from an early age. :-) The nation is in the process of trying to start an early learning center (preschool).
---Church aside, I am amazed by how many of the other Indian groups helped the Shinnecock with recovery after Hurricane Sandy.

The company I was exploring, in terms of beautiful lodging that could likely accommodate several people, is called "GlobalGroup." It is a real estate network that also sells properties. :-) GlobalGroup covers both the Hamptons and New York City!
-----The company also has affiliates in St. Barths, London, Paris, Los Angeles, New York City, Colorado, Palm Beach, San Francisco, Turks and Caicos and the Russian Federation.
-----There are many house styles available. Looking through these has been educational as there are some I have never heard of...Mansard and Upside Down.
-----I learned that there are also many different types of waterfront/waterview properties. Relaxing thoughts. :-)

I could not find another (Native American) photo that I wanted for this posting...so, I went with something of sentimental value. This is a photo that I did of a flower arrangement for our house. I call the photo "Welch Indian." There is a feather in it that has personal significance to me...a memorial to a departed loved one (who was an Indian). The bottle was a wedding present...when my in-laws found I couldn't drink the wine they gave us, they sent me grape juice. After we drank the grape juice, I turned the bottle into a vase. I am a very sentimental person. :-)

Stay tuned for the Shinnecock recipes I am exploring:
Shinnecock Indian Succotash (authentic)
Baked Whiting Shinnecock
Shinnecock Cocktail (inspired by the area). For sweetener, it has peaches and agave syrup (vs. sugar). :-)
Shinnecock Tuna Sandwich. I am passionately interested in horseradish lately.

CALENDAR

Licensed photo...DO NOT COPY.

Photo by Quentin Houyoux.

Title: Maya Calendar

Description: Artifact of Maya Calendar in a sunray

-----March 1, 2013. International Hug a Librarian Day. I am wondering if you get extra points for hugging a beyond-grumpy librarian...I have, unfortunately, met a few.
-----March 8-10, 2013. South by South City Music Festival. St. Louis. A "weekend of STL bands, beers, print, record stores and radio." Inspired by SXSW and it seems that it will be called SXSC. :-)
-----March 23-July 28, 2013. David Bowie Is" exhibit.
-----May 23-26 2013. Phoenix Comicon. Last year, Leonard Nimoy was there. This year, Anthony Michael Hall and Walter Koenig will be guests. An event that I am adding to my bucket list. :-)
-----2014. A biopic with Sacha Baron Cohen as Freddie Mercury will come out. I hope that Mr. Cohen does not do his own vocals....whether he would be good at them or not-it reminds me of La Bamba where many people now think of sounds other than the real Ritchie Valens.
-----March 28, 2014. Russell Crowe as Noah.

In My Life.....

We got mostly through the first episode of "The Bible" last night. We had it recorded on the TV. It is certainly not a boring series...visually spectacular and the visually spectacular is varied. It was unusual to see Noah portrayed by a man whose accent appeared to be Scottish.
"The Bible is brought to you in part by Walmart."
A while back this series could be pre-ordered at one of the Walmarts near us.
I don't know if the "Vikings" series that started the same day was for sale, also. Little One thoroughly approves of the fact that AWOL Nation's song "Sail" was used in all of the Vikings commercials. :-)



I am on page 36. As soon as I get finished reading this for some genealogy research that I am doing, I am going to send it off to an aunt who also likes to do that sort of research. :-) Of course, when I bought the book new about seven or eight years ago, it was $19.95...welcome to the age of Amazon. :-)

Speaking of moral things..."90210" on the CW has become an immoral thing. Beyond immoral (even though I am sure it will be some sort of misunderstanding). It is being indicated in the previews that Naomi got drunk and married her half-brother. Maybe he will turn out to not be her half-brother and she suddenly found out before marrying him. One thing is for sure...I am never watching this show again. #beyondridiculous



Murder and actors who are busy trying to fool the world/a private investigator. I think this is the tenth novel featuring the private investigator. Not my usual read...but I will read it before passing it on. An Advance Reader copy that I should get around to reviewing though I no longer have an idea who it was being reviewed for. Even if the company sending me a book doesn't require a review, I like to do it sooner or later. When I am done, I have found a new home for this one.


Peter Garrett (lead singer) is someone I admire a lot as he has really tried to help people for years! This is an example of the many kinds of music Little One will grow up listening to. Husband thought the music and the didgeridoo were awesome. Once upon a time, "Beds are Burning" was a hit here...now, Australian friends are amazed that I have even heard of this band. I like a lot of songs from Midnight Oil for their beauty and their truthful look at history.


Seriously, the bunnies get splashed with mud and the bear decides have them hop in the washing machine and get washed on the delicate cycle? There is some awful children's literature out there!

In My Life.....

We are going shopping today and I am writing up the grocery list for some of this month's menu. :-)
-----Dinner tonight. Bacon, Slaw and Tomato Sandwich. It includes a green cabbage slaw with fresh dill. I think this will be served with Smitten Kitchen's recipe for home fries. I will make a French Fry Sauce for Little One to try on his fries and we adults will have fresh chives.

Water has been discovered in the Apollo lunar rocks. Of course, this is causing some to rethink theories on the moon's origin.

In My Life.....

----- I have been wondering if Toys for Tots will be affected in any way by the Sequester. A good friend says that "the Marines won't listen" and I bet he is right...if there is even a trickle down effect, they will still find a way to help as much as possible.
-----I did not know that The Cheesecake Factory serves pomegranate mojitos. :-) This was the first recipe that I found for making a pomegranate mojito. The recipe I found was on Food.com which, by the way, has a Pinterest page. :-)
-----I just don't understand some people. How they never do a kind deed willingly EVER and then expect to be treated as if they are the kindest person in the world. I know that they have a conscience but have chosen to turn it off. I am talking about four specific people here. Three of these people actively do evil to others ALL THE TIME but have gotten pretty good at hiding it or manipulating others into not noticing it. The fourth does nothing but selfishness ever and people don't realize it so they leap to that person's defense if anyone tries to point it out (this person hasn't done anything to me other than be inconsiderate...so, I am not saying this out of a personal vendetta). I just wish I could figure these people out and somehow inspire them to change. All the energy that is put into being miserable and/or spiteful could be used to have a wonderful life with the rest of us. Advice?
-----Imagine you get all the furniture in a room moved and some new furniture in it, too. A lot of work. Then you find there are no outlets anywhere in the room (which is supposed to be an office). I am not imagining this. #backtosquareone

Recipe finds:
-----Brisket Tacos with Red Cabbage
-----Italian Beef Brisket with Fried Egg (sandwich)
-----Pomegranate Mojito with Vanilla Sugar.  An Emeril recipe.


"Only a Vulcan mind meld will help with this congress. LLAP"
-Leonard Nemoy

A sign of my times.

Safety signs are actually a source of many memories for me.
There was:
~ ~ ~ The loved one who collected them.
~ ~ ~ The elderly loved one who decided to "yield" by coming to a complete stop in front of an oncoming semi and a station wagon. (Read this a near-death experience).
~ ~ ~ The semi that ignored the signs not to go into the parking lot I was walking through. He then drove in a diagonal line towards me...so slowly that I felt I was in a movie. A bit later, the driver decided it was time to turn around as I made my escape out of the parking lot. Of course, he chose an unwise route and almost hit me as he drove diagonally over the tops of two medians. Maybe he saw me...I don't know-he was driving away too fast during my slightly shocked efforts to see his "How's My Driving?" sign. (Read this as another near-death experience.)
~ ~ ~ The college students who ran out into the street and took them into their dorm. This would have been funny if it weren't a big safety hazard  I am sure they did not think it was funny when the bus driver going by got on her CB and reported the incident...to the police.
~ ~ ~ Not quite a sign...but the warning stickers that a group of friends and myself were given permission to put on cars that were trespassing. The wording other than "Violators Will be Towed" was altered on one and placed on a toilet. :-)

Memories.
Anyway.
It was interesting earlier to explore Safetysign.com.

I particularly liked that there were signs against bullying...one aspect where I feel the American educational system is actually making efforts in the right direction. :-)
I applaud this company for offering these signs. I might get one for homeschooling. I know some teachers and daycare providers that I will be passing the info on to. :-)


The traffic signs were a good thing to make note of...for when I have my own business. As, were, of course, the parking signs. 
~ ~ ~ It was unusual for me to see "family-friendly parking" and parking for families with small children. I don't think I have ever seen a company actually do this. Hmmm. The prices on this are not bad....under $20!
~ ~ ~ I noticed that many of the signs are "MUTCD" and DOT compliant. Being an ever curious person, I had to find out what the MUTCD is...the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

A photo I took several years ago of a stop sign that was for two different directions. I used this for a "yellow" meme.
Somewhere, I have a photo where there is ice on the sign and a ice piece in the shape of the sign has separated from the lower sign.

"Reader!" The inside joke here is that a drunken person once felt they were insulting me by calling me this.

-----I did not know that Toys for Tots has a literacy program.

-----Speaking of books, I have downloaded three that are free for Kindle (at least free for today).
~ ~ ~ "Perfect Me" by Jason Z. Christie. This book describes itself as reading like Douglas Adams...we will see.
~ ~ ~ "Reaching Your Reluctant Reader." I do not, and hopefully will not, have a child who is a reluctant reader. I am excited to see what creative approaches to literacy this book suggests.
~ ~ ~ "Honey Badger at Home." A children's book about compassion. We are going to try reading this tonight. The book is described as being beautifully illustrated. :-) A friend of mine has also downloaded this to read to her niece and nephew. :-)

-----Bono states that extreme poverty will be at an end by 2028!
~ ~ ~ On a (very minor) side note, where does Bono get glasses like that?


There are new shoes being marketed to tweens called "Daddy's Money." The idea is to be spoiled with Daddy's money. (KATU News out of Portland, OR covered it this morning.)

Recipes:
-----Mole Burger. A recipe I found for part of my armchair traveling. I would like to go to Pacoima (in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles) where Ritchie Valens lived but do not have the finances and think it might be kind of a dangerous area. Anyway, I am starting a Pinterest board of recipe finds inspired by Pacoima restaurants called "Pacoima Comes to Me."
-----Lemon-Brown Sugar-Blueberry Pancakes
-----This Pesto Pasta Primavera is on next month's menu. Pretty easy. :-)

-----Seriously? Now thieves are (sometimes violently) stealing dreadlocks off of people?
-----Police use Pinterest to combat street drugs.

Are there really people who eat panda paws or was someone just joking?

U.S. military deaths in Afghanistan at 2,047. Plus there have been 18,285 wounded. :-(

Sadly, the initial reports were wrong and Taliban attacks are not down in Afghanistan. At least the prospects for withdrawal are still optimistic.

-----I wish that I had the money/know-how to develop apps. I have a couple of ideas for my Android.
-----Among the other fun "holidays," a Johnny Cash Day would be great. :-)
-----We love Steak N' Shake but I don't think I will EVER have a craving for a burger that has 7 patties and 7 slices of cheese! I might crave to ask if they will let me buy some more patties or bring along some extra bread (to divide among friends as a part of their meal). I did notice that there was a headline in the sidebar about "7 Worst Foods for Your Body."
-----I saw a pin on Pinterest of cinder block raised beds. This would be great...until I was gardening and fell on one. Not for those with running children or the ultra-klutzy.