I've been tired every night, but the week is over now and it was a groundbreaking week.
Determined to do all subjects weekly, and for me that means being sure to include history and science, I set forth to deliver fifth grade to our son. I found last year that I could not do all the subjects and still get reading, writing, and arithmetic done to my satisfaction so I was very spotty with the history and did basically, what amounts to no science. I decided that the early years up to grade four would focus on the Three R's because with a solid foundation in the Three R's a kid can fly where ever he wants when he's ready. Thing is, in writing I was failing him. I tried and tried teaching him writing, yet he would not write. He would write one or two sentences under penalty of death, but that made home life unbearable and the sentences were not very good anyway. Still, I continued to teach grammar, vocabulary, printing, cursive, and spelling every day, little by little. He did very well in grammar and vocabulary, quite well in spelling, okay in printing, and awful in cursive. But could I get him to put it all together, as in write something? No.
Beginning this school year (what, one week ago?) I decided to put on a new hat and be positive and forge ahead. I instituted a major change. I shortened language arts lessons and I used a timer. I set it to 20 minutes each for spelling, grammar, and vocabulary. Lo and behold, he finished every assignment within the time limit - quality work, correct and legible, and with a good attitude. He even finished his reading assignments in the allotted time limit. That was icing on the cake. On Monday I was bowled over. On Tuesday I was pleased. On Wednesday I was expecting his old ways to return. On Thursday he wrote a complete story summary. My heart was singing! On Friday, another good day. He successfully finished all of his assignments for the week.
There's been a change in him. My husband and I think he's suddenly matured. But we really don't know what to attribute the change to. Today my husband said he's so glad we homeschool because otherwise we'd never be aware of this inward change. My husband teaches the math so he's seeing it too.
When our son was a tot I once saw a third grade homeschooled boy writing a lengthy paper at the laundromat. It made a lasting impression on me and I thought, wow, so that's how it's going to be! Ha! When it didn't happen in third grade or even fourth grade I wondered...was I not a good enough teacher? Am I not inspiring! Can I ever motivate him. Will my child ever write like that? In my frustration I reminded him of the Chinese proverb, Teachers open the door, you enter by yourself. My answer arrived on Thursday when the story summary he wrote was 3/4 of a page long, complete sentences, correct punctuation, all important events included, in proper sequence, and it was, WHAT!, even legible.
I hope it all continues. All the unsureness is wiped away. Little leaves in the wind.
Well, enough of life's epiphanies. Good night!
Friday, September 21, 2007
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
2nd day of fifth grade
Amazingly. A second wonderful day. I have my lesson plans finished for tomorrow too. Whew. Purty good.
Hair compliment! The lady next door said her husband saw my hair down the other day and he was surprised by its length. Sunday she saw me walking back from the showers and said, "Oh, your hair is usually up and I didn't realize, it is long!" And she said, "That's neat!" She asked me how long it's been growing and when I got it cut last. I thought it was very sweet of her.
Belly dance class went well. I think I'll go back but I'm not 100% sure. I'm a little uneasy with driving an hour distance by myself. Husband bought me a cell phone today so I can have my own to call him in case of an emergency. I asked a friend if she wants to go with me next week and she gave me a tentative yes. I miss my first teacher, Aziza, very much. No one I've met is as good of a teacher as she. I fear I will never find such a fine teacher again. The gal who teaches in Cruces, she dances well but it's more like learning dance moves from a friend. Technically, she leaves a lot out. It was wonderful to hear the music and shimmy and shake and be completely feminine.
To clarify the difference in style Aziza used to say, "The Lebanese dancer dances like she really doesn't know what she's got. She so innocent and completely unaware of her effect (on man). In contrast, the Egyptian dancer dances like she knows what she's got. But the Turkish dancer dances like she knows what she's got, and she knows how to use it! Haha! My preference is for Lebanese and Turkish and of course above all, American Tribal Style. Egyptian is just okay to me. I don't like the costuming as much. It's too slick.
The class was small and the studio is brand new. They had mirror tiles! Can you imagine dancing with mirrored tiles on the wall. Hmmm, do I want to look at my right shoulder or my left hip, and in the mirror nothing is aligned. My hips are over here, my head is over there, all distorted. I hope they put in some decent mirrors. She did show us some nice floor moves. I haven't got much floor to practice floor moves on but I'll give it a go. She reminded me that almost everything can be done on your knees just like when you're standing up, so I'm going to add that to my practicing at home. It gives you such strong thighs! Just get on your knees lean backwards slightly, and shimmy and/or do snake arms. You'll see. You get tired fast and it hurts good.
Rode my bike three miles. That was my exercise for the day because my lower back was slightly sore from last night.
Came down with a big headache at 12:30am last night. I didn't get up and take Tylenol PM because I was afraid it'd make me feel sluggish in the morning for school so I hoped it would go away by itself. Sorry I was too, because come morning my temples were raging. My husband, this man whom I do not deserve, drove to the store for Tylenol (daytime kind) for me and then he had to rush for his volunteer job at the Visitor's Center. I made him a PB&J real quick. I didn't think Tylenol would work. I always laughed in the face of Tylenol. But guess what. It worked. It was slow but two hours later I was fine. I was happy because I was able to teach and not be a dullard for my son. I would be such a mess without my husband.
Tomorrow I'm going to ask my husband if I can get some new dance gear.
Hair compliment! The lady next door said her husband saw my hair down the other day and he was surprised by its length. Sunday she saw me walking back from the showers and said, "Oh, your hair is usually up and I didn't realize, it is long!" And she said, "That's neat!" She asked me how long it's been growing and when I got it cut last. I thought it was very sweet of her.
Belly dance class went well. I think I'll go back but I'm not 100% sure. I'm a little uneasy with driving an hour distance by myself. Husband bought me a cell phone today so I can have my own to call him in case of an emergency. I asked a friend if she wants to go with me next week and she gave me a tentative yes. I miss my first teacher, Aziza, very much. No one I've met is as good of a teacher as she. I fear I will never find such a fine teacher again. The gal who teaches in Cruces, she dances well but it's more like learning dance moves from a friend. Technically, she leaves a lot out. It was wonderful to hear the music and shimmy and shake and be completely feminine.
To clarify the difference in style Aziza used to say, "The Lebanese dancer dances like she really doesn't know what she's got. She so innocent and completely unaware of her effect (on man). In contrast, the Egyptian dancer dances like she knows what she's got. But the Turkish dancer dances like she knows what she's got, and she knows how to use it! Haha! My preference is for Lebanese and Turkish and of course above all, American Tribal Style. Egyptian is just okay to me. I don't like the costuming as much. It's too slick.
The class was small and the studio is brand new. They had mirror tiles! Can you imagine dancing with mirrored tiles on the wall. Hmmm, do I want to look at my right shoulder or my left hip, and in the mirror nothing is aligned. My hips are over here, my head is over there, all distorted. I hope they put in some decent mirrors. She did show us some nice floor moves. I haven't got much floor to practice floor moves on but I'll give it a go. She reminded me that almost everything can be done on your knees just like when you're standing up, so I'm going to add that to my practicing at home. It gives you such strong thighs! Just get on your knees lean backwards slightly, and shimmy and/or do snake arms. You'll see. You get tired fast and it hurts good.
Rode my bike three miles. That was my exercise for the day because my lower back was slightly sore from last night.
Came down with a big headache at 12:30am last night. I didn't get up and take Tylenol PM because I was afraid it'd make me feel sluggish in the morning for school so I hoped it would go away by itself. Sorry I was too, because come morning my temples were raging. My husband, this man whom I do not deserve, drove to the store for Tylenol (daytime kind) for me and then he had to rush for his volunteer job at the Visitor's Center. I made him a PB&J real quick. I didn't think Tylenol would work. I always laughed in the face of Tylenol. But guess what. It worked. It was slow but two hours later I was fine. I was happy because I was able to teach and not be a dullard for my son. I would be such a mess without my husband.
Tomorrow I'm going to ask my husband if I can get some new dance gear.
Monday, September 17, 2007
First day of fifth grade
I did it! We got everthing done by 3:00pm: spelling, grammar, vocabulary (20 minutes each), literature (1 hour), history (1 hour), typing practice and multiplication drill (15 minutes altogether). Husband did math with him. Man, I was so organized. Now, can I do it again? That's the question. I have only 179 more days to go.
No time to write much. I found a Middle Eastern class. Only thing is, I live in Podunk and the class is an hour drive from here. I hope it'll be worth it. Gotta go. Takes me an hour to get ready. My husband is driving me so if I continue to go I can drive myself next time. :)
No time to write much. I found a Middle Eastern class. Only thing is, I live in Podunk and the class is an hour drive from here. I hope it'll be worth it. Gotta go. Takes me an hour to get ready. My husband is driving me so if I continue to go I can drive myself next time. :)
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Last cinnamon roll
I'm eating my last one. They don't carry any cinnamon rolls in town.
Yesterday we drove to the chile capital of the world. That's Hatch, New Mexico. We bought 20 pounds of green chiles and watched them get roasted in a big roaster that looked like a bingo ball roller. Came home and peeled them for two hours, ran outta time, so froze the rest. The freezer is packed full!
Our neighbor just came by and gave me a kitchen towel that she knitted the edges very prettily and it goes on the oven and buttons so it stays. Very cute. She apologized for coming by while I'm in my pajamas but I told her not to worry - I wear my pajamas till late (or till afternoon but I tried not to say that!). She got a job in town because she likes to stay busy.
I hafta to get ready for churcharoo now. Somehow, I can start getting ready on time, but still be late.
Yesterday we drove to the chile capital of the world. That's Hatch, New Mexico. We bought 20 pounds of green chiles and watched them get roasted in a big roaster that looked like a bingo ball roller. Came home and peeled them for two hours, ran outta time, so froze the rest. The freezer is packed full!
Our neighbor just came by and gave me a kitchen towel that she knitted the edges very prettily and it goes on the oven and buttons so it stays. Very cute. She apologized for coming by while I'm in my pajamas but I told her not to worry - I wear my pajamas till late (or till afternoon but I tried not to say that!). She got a job in town because she likes to stay busy.
I hafta to get ready for churcharoo now. Somehow, I can start getting ready on time, but still be late.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Friday sweet Friday
I signed up for a ballet class last night. I start next week. They meet once a week. She may add a tap class and then I can go twice a week. After class the instructor and I chatted for an hour. Go me! It's good to talk and interact with people, right. I'm trying hard to get plugged in and connected this year. The only thing still hanging over my head is going to the animal refuge. Once I go there I will officially be a good person.
Finished up the s*x education today. When I started with it, I was heartsick but now that we're finished I'm happy. It went well I think. We wrapped it up with scripture, Romans 12:1.
I used the Quizzes for S*x Education I and II tests from this site. I may use the ones on other health topics sometime too.
Finished up the s*x education today. When I started with it, I was heartsick but now that we're finished I'm happy. It went well I think. We wrapped it up with scripture, Romans 12:1.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers in view of God's mercy, to offer you bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship.Talked about protecting our minds and that all that we have to give back to the Lord is ourselves. Zat's it, so we oughta do our best to make good with what we've got. Talked about twins and AIDS and p*rn*graphy and abstinence and that s*x is God's gift to married people. We covered a lot because fifth grade begins on Monday and I realized my plate is pretty full there. I guess I did a good job. He says he never wants to have sex. Bwa-hahahahha! Yeah, check back with me on that one in five years!
I used the Quizzes for S*x Education I and II tests from this site. I may use the ones on other health topics sometime too.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
5th grade coming down the pike
I'm running around like a chicken with its head cut off. No, actually I am accomplishing something. We have a couple more s*x ed discussions and I'll be done with that. The first day we did male and female reproductive organs and body parts and the second day we went over puberty and physical changes and next we went over m*nstr*ation. He'll know more than anyone one else on the playground now, boy howdy I tell ya! Of course we looked up the verse about being fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). Next I'm doing pregnancy; and lastly p*rn*graphy and critical thinking regarding Hollywood, the media; and the seismic cultural changes occurring in the U.S. I did realize as I was talking, how much my school left out about sexuality. I mean, I'm explaining all I should, but I don't want to explain too much, and as I speak I realize...this was never taught to me. I would tell you what I'm meaning exactly but I'd have to change my PG rating to R, so I leave it to your imagination. I told him to write down one question and fold up the paper and give it to me and his question was...how do twins come together.
Our fifth grade curriculum is online on Saturday so I'll have a couple days to review and prepare. I'm a little worried because at my K12 discussion group I read a thread on the topic of grammar. It started out, "Okay, 5th grade grammar is getting harder!!!!!!" (There were that many exclamation points.) Then, it said a bunch of stuff about complements and direct objects and linking verbs, none of which I understood, and it ended with "Help me!" Yeah, I'm scared! Haha!
It was fun opening the five boxes with all our new curriculum. My son was happiest about vocabulary and history. Does my heart good to hear him say, "Oh boy! History!" I have been feeling badly about not finishing fourth grade history and doing even less in science. Today, I was cheered up though because after I picked him up from his science lab class at the private school he said, "You know, I like it there a lot but I learn more in homeschool." Wow. And he wasn't even trying to give me a compliment.
After I picked him up from science lab class, I dropped by Kim's house and picked up a homeschooler's ID card for this county, so we're official.
My hair is doing nicely and I've been hit by consecutive days of prettiness. I don't know why but it is good.
Our fifth grade curriculum is online on Saturday so I'll have a couple days to review and prepare. I'm a little worried because at my K12 discussion group I read a thread on the topic of grammar. It started out, "Okay, 5th grade grammar is getting harder!!!!!!" (There were that many exclamation points.) Then, it said a bunch of stuff about complements and direct objects and linking verbs, none of which I understood, and it ended with "Help me!" Yeah, I'm scared! Haha!
It was fun opening the five boxes with all our new curriculum. My son was happiest about vocabulary and history. Does my heart good to hear him say, "Oh boy! History!" I have been feeling badly about not finishing fourth grade history and doing even less in science. Today, I was cheered up though because after I picked him up from his science lab class at the private school he said, "You know, I like it there a lot but I learn more in homeschool." Wow. And he wasn't even trying to give me a compliment.
After I picked him up from science lab class, I dropped by Kim's house and picked up a homeschooler's ID card for this county, so we're official.
My hair is doing nicely and I've been hit by consecutive days of prettiness. I don't know why but it is good.
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Books
After dinner in the evenings before everyone disperses for evening activities, I've been reading a chapter from Susan Wise Bauer's The Story of the World. Everyone has enjoyed it. I do have an ulterior motive. It goes over some of the studies we've done so it'll reinforce those events.
I happened to go to the library yesterday. Oh yeah, oh yeah. I got some anatomy books and childbirth and s*xual abstinence books. I planned to do s*x education this year and go into depth, but the timetable has changed and the time is now.
It will be interesting to see how this goes. My husband cracks me up. He says I did such a good job with our eldest son that he'll just let me take care of this one too. "Um, do whatever you did before," he told me. Haha! Thinks he's getting out of it this time? No way! I have to school him a little though. We haven't even gone over the specific ins and outs. I mean we have, but descriptions change based on a child's age, right?
My husband says at the dinner table, "Whatever you do, be sure you use protection." Son says, "Whuh?" and my husband stammered and couldn't say another word. He looks at me with the word "Help" in one eye and "Me" in the other. I did not help him! You ought to have a game plan before you come out with that one. Husband, has no game plan. I do and it's based on biblical principles.
I happened to go to the library yesterday. Oh yeah, oh yeah. I got some anatomy books and childbirth and s*xual abstinence books. I planned to do s*x education this year and go into depth, but the timetable has changed and the time is now.
It will be interesting to see how this goes. My husband cracks me up. He says I did such a good job with our eldest son that he'll just let me take care of this one too. "Um, do whatever you did before," he told me. Haha! Thinks he's getting out of it this time? No way! I have to school him a little though. We haven't even gone over the specific ins and outs. I mean we have, but descriptions change based on a child's age, right?
My husband says at the dinner table, "Whatever you do, be sure you use protection." Son says, "Whuh?" and my husband stammered and couldn't say another word. He looks at me with the word "Help" in one eye and "Me" in the other. I did not help him! You ought to have a game plan before you come out with that one. Husband, has no game plan. I do and it's based on biblical principles.
Friday, September 07, 2007
I wish
Most of all, I wish to be a godly mother. But exactly how? Exactly how. I'm a good mother, but to be godly is more.
The world knocked on my door today, and entered my home full force via the computer screen. It was invited in inadvertently, innocently. The enemy was ready, but I was not. I was asleep. Literally and figuratively.
I reject the world and I will not be quiet. I will not be still.
Proverbs 1:8, "Listen, my child, to what your father teaches you. Don't neglect your mother's teaching. What you learn from them will crown you with grace and clothe you with honor."
I must live up to it. I cannot fail.
The world knocked on my door today, and entered my home full force via the computer screen. It was invited in inadvertently, innocently. The enemy was ready, but I was not. I was asleep. Literally and figuratively.
I reject the world and I will not be quiet. I will not be still.
Proverbs 1:8, "Listen, my child, to what your father teaches you. Don't neglect your mother's teaching. What you learn from them will crown you with grace and clothe you with honor."
I must live up to it. I cannot fail.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Peacock earrings
Finishing touches finally finished! I inserted size 15 beading needles through the neck of each earring to reinforce them. In low light they're dark yet they glimmer and shimmer when you move! The Swarovski crystals are jet AB2X. The double aurora borealis application turns the jet black into a peacock blue and the facets individually reflect a gold color as well. I was so lucky to find them. The pattern called for clear crystals but I didn't think clear would provide any wow factor. The beads for the body are galvanized dark green and I used purple iris for the wings. The wing pattern shows depending on how the light hits them. The posts are 24kt gold plate. It's vermeil - which is gold plate over sterling silver applied electrochemically. Gold filled is better quality but for gold plate these weren't cheap. I think gold plate should weather well since they're not rubbing against skin. Hope so anyway. Gold filled, also known as gold rolled (which makes more sense), is more durable. Gold plate is a very thin coating of gold although 24K is a teensy bit heavier than 10 or 12K. Gold filled is not really gold filled, but gold over the outside of some other metal.
Honestly, they are prettier in real life! They individual beads in the body absolutely glitter in the light.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Another day
I just went to FTTS (Face to the Sunshine) and I like to sit here and smile to myself about the things she writes about sometimes.
Today was, meh, just okay. I was disappointed with my son's grade on his history test. Talk to him and he's bright and articulate and a trip to listen to as he relates the events spanning from the American Revolution to the French Revolution, but can I get him to write it down in a cogent paragraph? Please, I'm dyin' here.
Wayne from high school dropped me a line tonight. Get outta town! I'm for reals. Wayne was so cute in junior high and high school. Girls were crazy about him. I think he liked the girls fairly well too. Mwahahaha! I bet he was trouble with a capital T for his parents. In junior high he broke his leg. I think on a minibike or something. And on the first day of school in like seventh grade he wore a brand new, huge, heavy knit pullover sweater. The morning was cool so it was fine but by afternoon temp must have been in the 90s . He was miserable. Why did he wear a big knit sweater? Whattya think he did? He took his sweater off right there in class and there he was in Levis and bare chested. It was math class if memory serves. And he was really cute and all the girls liked him. Like I said, trouble with a capital T!
Once in high school he was talking to me and looking me up and down. There wasn't much to look at but I sure didn't mind him lookin'. He had his arms both up hanging on a tree branch and he was wearing clodhopper shoes. I was looking mostly at his shoes because I remember them so well. Can't remember word one of what he said. Haha! I see him with blue sky behind him just like yesterday. Blue eyes too. High school. Sigh.
My mom wrote me today. A big ol' honkin' email. You have no idea how much she can write. I wanted to poke both my eyes out. Promise to myself, I'm working through this angst and completing it by age 50. I have two years to go. Must get it done. Out of the million words we've exchanged in the past three days she did say one thing that I liked. She said:
Finally, but finally finished my seed bead peacock earrings. I changed the plain ear wire to these vermeil earring posts and now the earrings really rock. I like the look of ear wires but on me I prefer some coverage for my piercing. Because I've worn such heavy earrings my earring holes are stretched a little. Not ideal. I need some plastic surgery. I need some kind of earring hole lift. I need a few other things lifted too. I'll get it all done at the same time. I have to try to photograph them now. I tried when I first finished them and it was hard to get the shine to show and at the same time get no blur what with the beads being so tiny. It's a challenge to get a photo that depicts them as they really appear.
Today was, meh, just okay. I was disappointed with my son's grade on his history test. Talk to him and he's bright and articulate and a trip to listen to as he relates the events spanning from the American Revolution to the French Revolution, but can I get him to write it down in a cogent paragraph? Please, I'm dyin' here.
Wayne from high school dropped me a line tonight. Get outta town! I'm for reals. Wayne was so cute in junior high and high school. Girls were crazy about him. I think he liked the girls fairly well too. Mwahahaha! I bet he was trouble with a capital T for his parents. In junior high he broke his leg. I think on a minibike or something. And on the first day of school in like seventh grade he wore a brand new, huge, heavy knit pullover sweater. The morning was cool so it was fine but by afternoon temp must have been in the 90s . He was miserable. Why did he wear a big knit sweater? Whattya think he did? He took his sweater off right there in class and there he was in Levis and bare chested. It was math class if memory serves. And he was really cute and all the girls liked him. Like I said, trouble with a capital T!
Once in high school he was talking to me and looking me up and down. There wasn't much to look at but I sure didn't mind him lookin'. He had his arms both up hanging on a tree branch and he was wearing clodhopper shoes. I was looking mostly at his shoes because I remember them so well. Can't remember word one of what he said. Haha! I see him with blue sky behind him just like yesterday. Blue eyes too. High school. Sigh.
My mom wrote me today. A big ol' honkin' email. You have no idea how much she can write. I wanted to poke both my eyes out. Promise to myself, I'm working through this angst and completing it by age 50. I have two years to go. Must get it done. Out of the million words we've exchanged in the past three days she did say one thing that I liked. She said:
You, Liliana, are like an onion, in many layers. Or, to quote Winston Churchill re: Russia, you are "a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma." You are very complex.That can't be all bad, right? My husband's daughter said I'm an enigma too. I better get my dictionary out since two people have said it now.
Finally, but finally finished my seed bead peacock earrings. I changed the plain ear wire to these vermeil earring posts and now the earrings really rock. I like the look of ear wires but on me I prefer some coverage for my piercing. Because I've worn such heavy earrings my earring holes are stretched a little. Not ideal. I need some plastic surgery. I need some kind of earring hole lift. I need a few other things lifted too. I'll get it all done at the same time. I have to try to photograph them now. I tried when I first finished them and it was hard to get the shine to show and at the same time get no blur what with the beads being so tiny. It's a challenge to get a photo that depicts them as they really appear.
Monday, September 03, 2007
Sunday, September 02, 2007
I have a heat headache
We worked today from 2pm to 6pm and I wore a hat and got to stand in the shade of a tree quite a bit but I still got a headache afterwards. It always comes after I come in from the sun. I guess I've turned into a sun wimp. I almost got one yesterday (we worked 9-12) but I didn't, so I thought today I would fare well also. Didn't. My feets hurt and I'm sticky and I took Excedrin at 6:00pm and I just took a Tylenol PM now. Tylenol PM makes me sleep and I would like to sleep to escape this headache.
Husband bought us Taco Bell after work. I discovered that I like their tostadas.
I had fun directing traffic today. If they had a receipt already, I'd say "Nine two (September 2) - Go on through! Stay to your right! Thaaaank-YOU." And people smiled. And if they had a yearly pass I'd turn my arm in a big clock circle and direct them to the right lane. I had a couple people try to rip me off. Yeah, baby. I ran after one of 'em, told him he has to get in the lane I was directing him to, and buy a day pass. Shoot, he was trying to drive through the entrance and not pay! Can you believe it? He pretended he didn't know what I was talking about but we both knew what he was trying to do. And was he trying to kill me? After running to catch him I got a little light headed walking back to do my traffic directing. I hoped I wouldn't have to run after anyone else. I got him though and I felt good about that. The first time it happened a guy did get clean through and I was hoppin' mad. Told my husband I need a pen and paper to take down the license number of the next driver who tries to rip me off. I can pass the info on to a ranger who will charge them the fee plus a fine if they find him. Sure enough, a guy in a silver car ignored me. He got to the entrance, tried to drive straight through, and was real nasty to the cashier.
Well check this out, it was not his day. All he had to do was pay five bucks, but while he was being hateful, he noticed a sheriff's car sitting just inside the entrance. Silver car driver was suddenly strangely afraid to drive on through and cashier had time to call the rangers. It's howdy-doody time now. Turns out the driver had no license, was driving a stolen car, and had a runaway girl in the car with him. It was a sorry sight seeing them sitting on the curb for 45 minutes. I felt like crying for a bit, said a prayer for them. She had only a bikini bottom on and a shirt and had a real cute figure. Turned out the car was stolen from her own mama and she stole a hundred dollars from home too. Guys were all covered with tats and wearing the big baggy clothes. Souls lost in a lost world. It's an ugly thing - a spider's web. I hope so much it'll change for them.
I had only one lady get nasty with me and it was yesterday. I asked to see her receipt and she was mean. She looked to be about my age too. What's the point of being nasty when all you have to do is show your receipt? I didn't let her git me down though. I said thank-you and waved her through. Guess she was in a hurry to have fun.
Hey, my headache feels a little better.
Husband bought us Taco Bell after work. I discovered that I like their tostadas.
I had fun directing traffic today. If they had a receipt already, I'd say "Nine two (September 2) - Go on through! Stay to your right! Thaaaank-YOU." And people smiled. And if they had a yearly pass I'd turn my arm in a big clock circle and direct them to the right lane. I had a couple people try to rip me off. Yeah, baby. I ran after one of 'em, told him he has to get in the lane I was directing him to, and buy a day pass. Shoot, he was trying to drive through the entrance and not pay! Can you believe it? He pretended he didn't know what I was talking about but we both knew what he was trying to do. And was he trying to kill me? After running to catch him I got a little light headed walking back to do my traffic directing. I hoped I wouldn't have to run after anyone else. I got him though and I felt good about that. The first time it happened a guy did get clean through and I was hoppin' mad. Told my husband I need a pen and paper to take down the license number of the next driver who tries to rip me off. I can pass the info on to a ranger who will charge them the fee plus a fine if they find him. Sure enough, a guy in a silver car ignored me. He got to the entrance, tried to drive straight through, and was real nasty to the cashier.
Well check this out, it was not his day. All he had to do was pay five bucks, but while he was being hateful, he noticed a sheriff's car sitting just inside the entrance. Silver car driver was suddenly strangely afraid to drive on through and cashier had time to call the rangers. It's howdy-doody time now. Turns out the driver had no license, was driving a stolen car, and had a runaway girl in the car with him. It was a sorry sight seeing them sitting on the curb for 45 minutes. I felt like crying for a bit, said a prayer for them. She had only a bikini bottom on and a shirt and had a real cute figure. Turned out the car was stolen from her own mama and she stole a hundred dollars from home too. Guys were all covered with tats and wearing the big baggy clothes. Souls lost in a lost world. It's an ugly thing - a spider's web. I hope so much it'll change for them.
I had only one lady get nasty with me and it was yesterday. I asked to see her receipt and she was mean. She looked to be about my age too. What's the point of being nasty when all you have to do is show your receipt? I didn't let her git me down though. I said thank-you and waved her through. Guess she was in a hurry to have fun.
Hey, my headache feels a little better.
Saturday, September 01, 2007
Tomorrow approaches
Tomorrow I work from 9:00am to noon directing traffic. I hope I don't pass out from the heat!
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Everyday hair
Pics to share with my long hair hobby grrrlfriends. Hope it doesn't make anybody seasick. It's a bit off-kilter. I made thirty-nine inches. Whew. Go, me! Didn't think I was going to make it. I keep expecting a no growth month. I'm due one anytime because last year I had a no growth month in August.
I know. It's not a neato pic or anything but I did say it was everyday hair. Son took this one of me. I'm fond of his POV. I'm wearing my pajama top which is why it's PiNk! I wanted a light colored top and searched all my cubbies which took all of two minutes because I have three little cubbies, and all I own are dark tops. I do own a pink sweatshirt now, but it's too hot to wear it yet.
Who ever enlarges this pic and sees the dust, they have to come to my trailie and dust. View the details at your own risk!
And I have one more. In my hand is my dad's rosary given to him by his dad. My grandad was a serious Catholic. All six kids are Catholic but for some reason with my dad it didn't take. My dad, he's never prayed on the rosary once. He showed it to my sister and me, and I asked if I could have it. He said sure. So I pray on it sometimes. During Lent I go the extra mile and pray the Mysteries on it - Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, Luminous. It's an excellent way to remember and recall the life of Jesus. I have a booklet to do it. Ya gotta have the booklet. Can't remember all those events without it. Wish all my hair had slid off the sofa, but oh well.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Upcoming lessons
Last night we were watching the wildlife and I commented on the lack of baby jackrabbits. We've seen lots of baby cottontails and lots of baby quail, two young roadrunners, but no small jacks. My husband said he thought he saw one that looked pregnant and I said, no, I don't think so, and then we argued a bit about how late is too late in the season to have babies in the wild.
Son was listening in and he pipes up with, "Mammaaaa, there aren't any jackrabbits because they haven't been launched yet." We laughed! Then tonight I mentioned how we've seen a single gnarly old squirrel but no cute baby squirrels, and my son informed me that they didn't hatch any this year! This time I took a double take, gave him my stern mom look and said, "Now you know mammals don't hatch out of eggs." Anywho, I think we'll do some brush up on the reproduction of birds and mammals this week and perhaps, rocket ships as well.
Son was listening in and he pipes up with, "Mammaaaa, there aren't any jackrabbits because they haven't been launched yet." We laughed! Then tonight I mentioned how we've seen a single gnarly old squirrel but no cute baby squirrels, and my son informed me that they didn't hatch any this year! This time I took a double take, gave him my stern mom look and said, "Now you know mammals don't hatch out of eggs." Anywho, I think we'll do some brush up on the reproduction of birds and mammals this week and perhaps, rocket ships as well.
Monday, August 27, 2007
A milestone
My husband bought us two new cots and we're sleeping under the stars tonight!
Our ten year old son has a special stuffed dog that he won at the fair when he was six years old. Its name is Rainbow because he's all the colors of the rainbow. Rainbow is still colorful and in pretty good shape despite how floppy he is. His floppiness just makes him more lovable, like the Velveteen Rabbit.
Rainbow was on the new cot that we just set up outside. Son picked him up and tucked him under his arm and as went up the steps into the trailer he turned round and whispered sort of sheepishly, "I don't want anyone to see me with Rainbow."
Awwww. It's the period at the end of a sentence of time. My husband and I looked at each other and we both sighed.
Our ten year old son has a special stuffed dog that he won at the fair when he was six years old. Its name is Rainbow because he's all the colors of the rainbow. Rainbow is still colorful and in pretty good shape despite how floppy he is. His floppiness just makes him more lovable, like the Velveteen Rabbit.
Rainbow was on the new cot that we just set up outside. Son picked him up and tucked him under his arm and as went up the steps into the trailer he turned round and whispered sort of sheepishly, "I don't want anyone to see me with Rainbow."
Awwww. It's the period at the end of a sentence of time. My husband and I looked at each other and we both sighed.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Do or do not do
I couldn't bead anything that looked pretty...so at 2:00am last night I ordered more beads and findings.
Here's some very bad, bad advice. If you cannot bead something pretty, order more beads.
Here's some very bad, bad advice. If you cannot bead something pretty, order more beads.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Mother Teresa's Crisis of Faith
I want to devour the article at Time Magazine entitled Mother Teresa's Crisis of Faith. I want to absorb it into my very cells and understand all of it. I want it tattooed on my body. Oh wait. I'm not doing any more tattoos.
A few years ago in a Bible study during a discussion I mentioned that even Mother Teresa fought within herself, in her soul and her consciousness, with her own faith and her feelings. It was a dead end as far as discussion, but I wonder if the pastor would remember that day now! A book is coming out September 4 - Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light. I want it.
I did a study on it today with our son. Brief, basic, an introduction for a ten year old.
She's Buddhist, or sort of a Buddhist. I wager she's quite familiar with the Scriptures. I see Christian references in her video. I was never crazy about the Eurythmics because I was metal, but some of their tunes were catchy. Who can forget "Sweet Dreams are Made of These." I never did go for the androgyny, but that's her thing. It works for her. If I could look so good with one inch hair I'd go for it! But anyway, my point was going to be, it's an awesome video. Great to see a mature woman not trying to look 24 and still rocking some badmojambo, serious lyrics. It's going to resonate with a lot of people. I'd like to listen to more popular music than I do, but anymore with the lyrics...I have to be so careful what I listen to. Garbage in, garbage out, or better yet Philippians 4:8.
Hey, it's Friday. In Kara's inimitable way lemme say, "Have a super-d-duper week-end!"
A few years ago in a Bible study during a discussion I mentioned that even Mother Teresa fought within herself, in her soul and her consciousness, with her own faith and her feelings. It was a dead end as far as discussion, but I wonder if the pastor would remember that day now! A book is coming out September 4 - Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light. I want it.
I did a study on it today with our son. Brief, basic, an introduction for a ten year old.
- She was born as 'Agnes' in 1910 in Macedonia. Five kids born, two died. Father died when she was only eight. Perhaps poisoned by political foes.
- At age 18 she went to school in Dublin, Ireland, to learn English. Never saw her mom again.
- She taught history and geography, happily, for about 15 years.
- On a retreat, Christ spoke to her.
- She began the Missionaries of Charity to help the poorest of the poor in Calcutta, India.
She's Buddhist, or sort of a Buddhist. I wager she's quite familiar with the Scriptures. I see Christian references in her video. I was never crazy about the Eurythmics because I was metal, but some of their tunes were catchy. Who can forget "Sweet Dreams are Made of These." I never did go for the androgyny, but that's her thing. It works for her. If I could look so good with one inch hair I'd go for it! But anyway, my point was going to be, it's an awesome video. Great to see a mature woman not trying to look 24 and still rocking some badmojambo, serious lyrics. It's going to resonate with a lot of people. I'd like to listen to more popular music than I do, but anymore with the lyrics...I have to be so careful what I listen to. Garbage in, garbage out, or better yet Philippians 4:8.
Hey, it's Friday. In Kara's inimitable way lemme say, "Have a super-d-duper week-end!"
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
A day
Tonight we sat outside and watched the sun set in magenta, orange, yellow, warm grey and blue. There was lightning in the distance and I could smell the rain. Mmmm, the smell of rain. We only got a few drops here but I stood outside and let them fall on me.
I'm signing son up for a science lab class. It's only one hour a week. I'm hoping something may work out so that he can go in for art also. I'd hoped for a few more hours a week, but even one or two will be enough to make connections, friends, widen our circle here. He loves hands-on experiments and those are hard for me to do in the trailer. I don't have the storage space for odds and ends and I don't have unlimited shopping in this region either. I do miss having a homeschool room. I don't want a house yet though.
My husband might get us a couple cots. We want to sleep outside. I wish I could sleep outside tonight. The wind, my lullaby. I know that's not a complete sentence but that's what I want to say and that's the way I'm going to write it. I bought two cots at the beginning of our travels but they were quite large and didn't store well. They had big, thick pads like lounge chairs. Duh, I wasn't thinking very space economically. I want army cots this time.
Huge news. Wore my hair down all day till dinner. I put it up to make dinner. We had steak and baked taters and corn. Yum! I still feel full. I rather liked wearing it down. I think it gave me a dose of some sort of strange confidence. Hmmph. And I realized today...I...routinely put too much oil on my ends. I often don't like how piecey my ends are. I like fluffy ends. But fluffy is a by product of dry hair (for my own hair, that is, I think), so I'm compelled to oil my fluffy ends and they're no longer fluffed. Well, I've been stuck in this loop, this cycle, this syndrome, not even realizing I'm in it. This morning I did something new. I oiled from below my ears and stopped about six inches from the bottom so my ends kept their fluff! What an epiphany! It took a lot of self control.
Veronica has blogged her hair today. She was doing it with flying colors until I read her Part 2. She said:
I told my husband Veronica looks pretty darn good for being around for 66 years and he said, "Oh yeah. She works out. Keeps herself in shape." Gimme a break!
I noodled around MySp*ce last night. Yeah, I said I'd never go there in case anyone wants to remind me of what I said before. But I don't go back to that one page. It was ugly. Anywho, I got the bright idea to just check on a few people I know. Just for the ducks of it you know. Late night time on my hands. I found no fewer than five people, all family members. Get out of town! One page was basically empty though and one was set to private, thank you very much. (I think that's a good step when you're naming your whole family and town you live in, replete with photos!)
MySp*cers tend not to be dedicated bloggers though. It's for social networking primarily which is surely not my cup of tea, besides many of the pages being eyesores. One of the five did have some interesting blog entries and I now know more than I knew before and I have a window of understanding into her being that I did not have before. I won't rat them out though. I could, but I won't. They all used their true surnames and exact city they live in! I couldn't believe it.
I'm signing son up for a science lab class. It's only one hour a week. I'm hoping something may work out so that he can go in for art also. I'd hoped for a few more hours a week, but even one or two will be enough to make connections, friends, widen our circle here. He loves hands-on experiments and those are hard for me to do in the trailer. I don't have the storage space for odds and ends and I don't have unlimited shopping in this region either. I do miss having a homeschool room. I don't want a house yet though.
My husband might get us a couple cots. We want to sleep outside. I wish I could sleep outside tonight. The wind, my lullaby. I know that's not a complete sentence but that's what I want to say and that's the way I'm going to write it. I bought two cots at the beginning of our travels but they were quite large and didn't store well. They had big, thick pads like lounge chairs. Duh, I wasn't thinking very space economically. I want army cots this time.
Huge news. Wore my hair down all day till dinner. I put it up to make dinner. We had steak and baked taters and corn. Yum! I still feel full. I rather liked wearing it down. I think it gave me a dose of some sort of strange confidence. Hmmph. And I realized today...I...routinely put too much oil on my ends. I often don't like how piecey my ends are. I like fluffy ends. But fluffy is a by product of dry hair (for my own hair, that is, I think), so I'm compelled to oil my fluffy ends and they're no longer fluffed. Well, I've been stuck in this loop, this cycle, this syndrome, not even realizing I'm in it. This morning I did something new. I oiled from below my ears and stopped about six inches from the bottom so my ends kept their fluff! What an epiphany! It took a lot of self control.
Veronica has blogged her hair today. She was doing it with flying colors until I read her Part 2. She said:
And one of the most important factors in maintaining healthy hair is trimming it every 6- 8 weeks.She goes on to say:
That doesn’t mean chopping off your long locks that you worked so hard to grow, it just means cutting off the very ends that are all broken. Go on, take a look at the tips of your hair. If you see that a lot of the strands are split, broken or thinned out at the ends, it is time for a trim!I think she may have a good point there because some women do dust every month, but she's got wide readership consisting of pre-teen and new teen chickadees and this info is just not detailed enough. It can be easily misconstrued. More accurately, it should be said that some women with pretty hair trim rarely; a few not at all.
I told my husband Veronica looks pretty darn good for being around for 66 years and he said, "Oh yeah. She works out. Keeps herself in shape." Gimme a break!
I noodled around MySp*ce last night. Yeah, I said I'd never go there in case anyone wants to remind me of what I said before. But I don't go back to that one page. It was ugly. Anywho, I got the bright idea to just check on a few people I know. Just for the ducks of it you know. Late night time on my hands. I found no fewer than five people, all family members. Get out of town! One page was basically empty though and one was set to private, thank you very much. (I think that's a good step when you're naming your whole family and town you live in, replete with photos!)
MySp*cers tend not to be dedicated bloggers though. It's for social networking primarily which is surely not my cup of tea, besides many of the pages being eyesores. One of the five did have some interesting blog entries and I now know more than I knew before and I have a window of understanding into her being that I did not have before. I won't rat them out though. I could, but I won't. They all used their true surnames and exact city they live in! I couldn't believe it.
Possibilities
I have an appointment at 3:00 at a Christian private school. They're going to tell me what they have to offer, and if they have something that's a good fit for us, for our son, I'll sign up. I'm hoping they'll have a science class! I know they have an opening in Spanish but he wants to learn French, not Spanish. The Canadian kids are bilingual in French and English. That's why he's interested in French.
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