Sunday, January 27, 2008
President Gordon B. Hinckley Passed Today
Beloved Church President, Gordon B. Hinckley, Dies at 97
President Gordon B. Hinckley, who led The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through twelve years of global expansion, has died at the age of 97.I am new to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, as you all know, so he is the only President and Prophet that I have any experience with. I didn't know him personally, but from what I've seen of him I've been very impressed with his sweet spirit and compassion. And his quick wit. I was surprised by how funny he was!
I am happy for him, because he is with his wife now, and I know he's been waiting. But, I'm sad for the rest of us, as we have lost a truly unique, effective, and touching leader.
Labels: church
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Friday, January 25, 2008
Life is going on and on and on!
Wow, it's been SOOOOO busy here!
I don't know if you all remember, but a few months ago we got a houseguest, she's staying here while she is going through a (rather nasty) divorce. Well, a lot has changed here recently, and her kids are coming over to visit her here several times a week, and every other weekend. It's TOTALLY AWESOME to see them, but it's hectic here because that makes 9 kids in the house pretty regularly. So, it's chaos, but a good kind of chaos.
I've been doing a lot more walking, I'm gearing up for a long walk in the fall. I'll give you more details when I iron them out. I'm up to 10-12 miles a week, and I haven't gotten lost again! Plus, today, I met another woman who was out walking, and we exchanged phone numbers so I may have a walking buddy right in my neighborhood!
in about 15 minutes, we'll be doing signups for our homeschool group's co-op. Tomorrow I will try to come back in and let you all know what we're going to be doing, unless the 9 kids thing overwhelms me, in which case I'll be back on Monday!
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I don't know if you all remember, but a few months ago we got a houseguest, she's staying here while she is going through a (rather nasty) divorce. Well, a lot has changed here recently, and her kids are coming over to visit her here several times a week, and every other weekend. It's TOTALLY AWESOME to see them, but it's hectic here because that makes 9 kids in the house pretty regularly. So, it's chaos, but a good kind of chaos.
I've been doing a lot more walking, I'm gearing up for a long walk in the fall. I'll give you more details when I iron them out. I'm up to 10-12 miles a week, and I haven't gotten lost again! Plus, today, I met another woman who was out walking, and we exchanged phone numbers so I may have a walking buddy right in my neighborhood!
in about 15 minutes, we'll be doing signups for our homeschool group's co-op. Tomorrow I will try to come back in and let you all know what we're going to be doing, unless the 9 kids thing overwhelms me, in which case I'll be back on Monday!
Labels: homeschooling, walking
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Tuesday, January 15, 2008
I'm a loser!
And, worse yet, the most recent thing I lost was myself.
Before I start this story, I must reiterate that I am a genius. No really! I've been tested on more than one scale and scored consistently above the genius level. If IQ tests told the whole story, I should be running the world! Of course, I believe that's all crap, you can read why here, and here, plus there's proof all over this blog that being a "genius" doesn't seem to have anything to do with being "smart." At least not for me.
Anyway, we have been living in this house since 2001. I know where we live, I promise I do. Well, occasionally I pull into the wrong driveway and get mad when my garage door opener doesn't work on their door, but that's not my fault. It's the curse of the cookie-cutter suburb where all the houses look the same. Everyone does that, right?
The other night, I went out for a walk in my neighborhood. It was a nice night, and I had my iPod and I'd figured I'd have completed right around 3 miles when I was finished. I was enjoying the music and looking forward to getting home and putting my feet up when I looked around and realized that I had no idea where I was! If I'd been sworn in in a court of law that night, I could truthfully have testified that I had no recollection of having been in that part of town before.
I got a little panicky, and tried to decide if I should turn around and try going back, or keep trucking and hope that I was just confused and home was still ahead (does that ever happen to you?) After a few minutes of this, I ended up using my cell phone to call Davin to drive around and find me.
You see, cell phones are a Godsend to people like me! They're gadgety enough to make us feel smart, but simple enough that we can actually reach people on them. And, of course we can call for help when we're lost in our neighborhood.
It turns out that I had passed my turn quite a while back, and that I was pretty far from where I thought I was. But, it's not all bad, I got in more than the 3 miles I was expecting! That's always good, right?
And my parents had such high hopes for me.
.*.*.
Before I start this story, I must reiterate that I am a genius. No really! I've been tested on more than one scale and scored consistently above the genius level. If IQ tests told the whole story, I should be running the world! Of course, I believe that's all crap, you can read why here, and here, plus there's proof all over this blog that being a "genius" doesn't seem to have anything to do with being "smart." At least not for me.
Anyway, we have been living in this house since 2001. I know where we live, I promise I do. Well, occasionally I pull into the wrong driveway and get mad when my garage door opener doesn't work on their door, but that's not my fault. It's the curse of the cookie-cutter suburb where all the houses look the same. Everyone does that, right?
The other night, I went out for a walk in my neighborhood. It was a nice night, and I had my iPod and I'd figured I'd have completed right around 3 miles when I was finished. I was enjoying the music and looking forward to getting home and putting my feet up when I looked around and realized that I had no idea where I was! If I'd been sworn in in a court of law that night, I could truthfully have testified that I had no recollection of having been in that part of town before.
I got a little panicky, and tried to decide if I should turn around and try going back, or keep trucking and hope that I was just confused and home was still ahead (does that ever happen to you?) After a few minutes of this, I ended up using my cell phone to call Davin to drive around and find me.
You see, cell phones are a Godsend to people like me! They're gadgety enough to make us feel smart, but simple enough that we can actually reach people on them. And, of course we can call for help when we're lost in our neighborhood.
It turns out that I had passed my turn quite a while back, and that I was pretty far from where I thought I was. But, it's not all bad, I got in more than the 3 miles I was expecting! That's always good, right?
And my parents had such high hopes for me.
.*.*.
Monday, January 14, 2008
A bag and a circle cat hat!
I've been toying with the idea of using reusable bags at the store. We used to do it all the time in college, but sometime between then and now I got old and tired and just started using the bags they give you.
Anyway, I thought it would be fun to make a bag. I didn't really use a pattern, but there's nothing here that hasn't been done before. I made a circle for the bottom, then some mesh, and then a band of single crochets leading to a strap. Because of my fibromyalgia, I'm not always able to carry a lot in my hands, so I made the strap long enough to go over my shoulder. Plus some! It's really stretchy.
Here's me and my bag, the bag is modeling several canned goods from my pantry:
For next time, I will make the strap shorter, and probably make the sides shorter as well. That was pretty darn heavy will all that stuff in it! I think having groceries spread out over more bags would be easier for me to manage...
I posted this bag over at the Craftster Forums, where a discussion started about how to make a hat starting from the same kind of circle I used to start the bag. When I got enough details, I decided I just had to try it out. And IT TOTALLY WORKED!
I'm up late feeling crummy, so I only had onevictim model to work with as I sorted out this method. So, let's all hear a big round of applause for Tigger!
He's awfully patient, as you can tell.
Well, my work here is done. Goodnight!
.*.*.
Anyway, I thought it would be fun to make a bag. I didn't really use a pattern, but there's nothing here that hasn't been done before. I made a circle for the bottom, then some mesh, and then a band of single crochets leading to a strap. Because of my fibromyalgia, I'm not always able to carry a lot in my hands, so I made the strap long enough to go over my shoulder. Plus some! It's really stretchy.
Here's me and my bag, the bag is modeling several canned goods from my pantry:
For next time, I will make the strap shorter, and probably make the sides shorter as well. That was pretty darn heavy will all that stuff in it! I think having groceries spread out over more bags would be easier for me to manage...
I posted this bag over at the Craftster Forums, where a discussion started about how to make a hat starting from the same kind of circle I used to start the bag. When I got enough details, I decided I just had to try it out. And IT TOTALLY WORKED!
I'm up late feeling crummy, so I only had one
He's awfully patient, as you can tell.
Well, my work here is done. Goodnight!
Labels: crafting, crochet, fibromyalgia, pets
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Saturday, January 12, 2008
As Col. Smith of the A-Team says:
I love it when a plan comes together!
Remember back in February of last year, when I blogged a list of people I hoped would contact me if they vanity googled themselves? Well, it worked! I got an email from my locker partner from junior high and high school. Yay!
So, here's hoping the rest of the folks get a hold of me, too!
We're still cranking on the Hogwarts unit study. I currently have 50 books and videos out of the library, most of which are for this project. So, if I've been a little quiet lately, it's because I've been busy educatin' the brood.
.*.*.
Remember back in February of last year, when I blogged a list of people I hoped would contact me if they vanity googled themselves? Well, it worked! I got an email from my locker partner from junior high and high school. Yay!
So, here's hoping the rest of the folks get a hold of me, too!
We're still cranking on the Hogwarts unit study. I currently have 50 books and videos out of the library, most of which are for this project. So, if I've been a little quiet lately, it's because I've been busy educatin' the brood.
Labels: homeschooling, life
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Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Someone's trying to tell me something
I found this in the letters on my refrigerator. Would this bother you? Maybe it's because I've been reading too many horror novels and true crime, but this about scared the crap out of me!
What does it mean? Now I'm waiting for something bad to happen...
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What does it mean? Now I'm waiting for something bad to happen...
Labels: life
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Tuesday, January 08, 2008
A Term at Hogwarts
A lot of families in our homeschool group have decided to follow the same unit study this month. We're starting La Paz Home Learning's A Term at Hogwarts. We're having a graduation ceremony at the end of the month, with a feast! Until then, we'll be studying hard.
Of course, the first thing I had to do was to dork out and make mini Hogwarts scarves for my kids to wear. I made the little cards they attach to as well, I just culled some art from the net (they were reproduced a zillion times over at different sites, which I hope means no one will mind if I use them for my kids). The verse is taken from "The Sorcerer's Stone," it's modified from what the Sorting Hat says.
They sorted themselves, which surprised me. I thought I'd have to intervene.
So, for the rest of the month, this is where my kids are:
Anya: Gryffindor
Maya: Slytherin
Sage: Ravenclaw
Tiernan: Hufflepuff
Today we made Goblin Slobber and studied owls and chamomile.
.*.*.
Of course, the first thing I had to do was to dork out and make mini Hogwarts scarves for my kids to wear. I made the little cards they attach to as well, I just culled some art from the net (they were reproduced a zillion times over at different sites, which I hope means no one will mind if I use them for my kids). The verse is taken from "The Sorcerer's Stone," it's modified from what the Sorting Hat says.
They sorted themselves, which surprised me. I thought I'd have to intervene.
So, for the rest of the month, this is where my kids are:
Anya: Gryffindor
Maya: Slytherin
Sage: Ravenclaw
Tiernan: Hufflepuff
Today we made Goblin Slobber and studied owls and chamomile.
Labels: crafting, crochet, homeschooling, kids
.*.*.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
I'm a geek, that's no surprise...
 | I received 79 credits on The Sci Fi Sounds Quiz How much of a Sci-Fi geek are you? |
| Take the Sci-Fi Movie Quiz cheapest digital camera | |
Labels: sci fi
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Gah!
Stupid internet!
The Comcast guy came and "fixed" our internet, and now we can get on in 3-5 minute increments. Hopefully we can REALLY get it fixed tomorrow.
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The Comcast guy came and "fixed" our internet, and now we can get on in 3-5 minute increments. Hopefully we can REALLY get it fixed tomorrow.
Labels: can't blog
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Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Happy New Year!
How was your New Year's Eve?
We snagged a Wii on the 31st, so we've all been a little busy with it. A friend of ours called us to let us know that a local store had gotten a few in, and we ran down and brought one home. Yay! That, and the fact that Davin, Anya, Maya and Sage have started on World of Warcraft, and we're pretty much all plugged in to something all the time any more...
Davin's been home since before Christmas, but today he's back at work. So, I guess we'd better get back to work, or school, or at least do some cleaning, too. See you tomorrow!
.*.*.
We snagged a Wii on the 31st, so we've all been a little busy with it. A friend of ours called us to let us know that a local store had gotten a few in, and we ran down and brought one home. Yay! That, and the fact that Davin, Anya, Maya and Sage have started on World of Warcraft, and we're pretty much all plugged in to something all the time any more...
Davin's been home since before Christmas, but today he's back at work. So, I guess we'd better get back to work, or school, or at least do some cleaning, too. See you tomorrow!
Labels: holiday
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