tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82097854820412226292024-03-13T07:51:01.001-05:00Naked Opinions: The Fabled FortiesStepping into a new decade with opinions on being a parent, books, gender roles, politics, economics, Jane Austen, pedicures, Facebook, writing, baking, recipes, music, movies, coffee, tea, wine, and anything else I damn well please to bring up.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger308125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8209785482041222629.post-68402533328913421222012-11-03T14:47:00.001-05:002012-11-03T14:47:41.098-05:00Karis' Kitchen: Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce & How to Cut a Butter...So good, I have to save a copy somewhere: <br />
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<a href="http://www.karisann.com/2012/11/butternut-squash-pasta-sauce-how-to-cut.html?spref=bl">Karis' Kitchen: Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce & How to Cut a Butter...</a>: When I reached in my fridge this morning for orange juice and saw leftover butternut squash pasta, my first thought was "would it be weird t...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8209785482041222629.post-53219573703334952982011-12-10T12:30:00.001-06:002011-12-10T12:45:10.338-06:00Ok, I'm just going to do it: VOTE FOR ME!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
And TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS!</div>
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<a href="http://www.meegenius.com/challenge/alice-in-the-palace-the-real-life-story-of-a-part-time-princess-by-jennifer-van-haaften">Alice in the Palace: The Real Life Story of a Part-Time Princess</a><br />
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This contest is for me to get published electronically. In addition, my daughter's elementary school will get a full blown electronic picture book library for free! The company is called MeeGenius and this is what they specialize in, electronic picture books.</div>
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<a href="http://www.meegenius.com/"><img border="0" height="320" mda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JzDFiU5QOmY/TuOnNbY-tHI/AAAAAAAAAys/XqncUGio29w/s320/meegeniuslogo-300.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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My story is a real story, about a princess. I hope it conveys the fact that princesses aren't about being pretty and getting the prince, but about doing the right thing and not worrying about your looks. My critique group said they liked it because it wasn't about being a pretty princess, cancelling out all those princess stories out there.</div>
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I am so far behind the top vote getter, I don't think I'm going to make it to the final round. That round would let me be edited and get pretty pictures. I just would really, really, really like to get my book edited and illustrated, just to see what it's like, for once. Although, I'm not going to scrap the book. It could probably use a lot more work. But I think the idea is solid and could maybe be sold. I know I can and need to get better. Maybe I'll go to my picture book guru and see if she'll give me a critique.<br />
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But, if you find it in your heart to post it with your 1000+ blog followers and tell them to all go vote for mine, just to make my dream come true, I would be eternally grateful. I might even knit you some wrist warmers. Because I've picked that up in my spare time, too.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cache.lionbrand.com/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" mda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9DK_Vv60tLY/TuOnzjRcvZI/AAAAAAAAAy0/O9J-52xGW94/s320/wrist.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Lion Brand website</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8209785482041222629.post-51744452550131809402011-11-28T16:56:00.001-06:002011-11-28T17:39:58.745-06:00What am I doing with my time?What am I doing with my time, you wonder? I guess living up the forties. So many firsts.<br />
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Started my first weight training program. Never would have thought of myself as a weight lifter. I am going to be STRONG. No joke.<br />
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Started coaching a Future Problem Solving team. First time ever. Future Problem Solving, you ask? Well, click the <a href="http://www.wisfps.org/">link</a> and find out more about it. I knew as much about it as you know right now. But it is a pretty cool process. And I work with some pretty cool sixth grade kids. Yes, sixth graders?! Can you believe it? They are neat little people though.<br />
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Started my first year as the mother of a middle schooler. Oh, boy. It is simpler and more complicated. He seems challenged enough. We are. I feel a little more lost. But he still gives me hugs and doesn't mind holding my hand in public still, so I feel blessed.<br />
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Got our first Wii! Well, ok, it's not the first gaming system in our house, but we finally joined the rest of the world.<br />
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Bought a new camera, the first time in years!<br />
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When the casing is falling off in pieces from your old camera and has been doing so for about 24 months, you really should bite the bullet and get something else.<br />
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Joined my first writer's organization AND attended a writing retreat! <a href="http://www.scbwi.org/">SCBWI</a> and <a href="http://www.scbwi-wi.com/home.html">SCBWI-Wisconsin</a> is an awesome place to be involved. We loved our <a href="http://jamieaswenson.blogspot.com/">critiquer</a> and her points on our book were fabulous and just the push we needed to work harder on it. We're still working on it, but now, we understand that books take YEARS. Yes, YEARS. When one lady says one of her picture books was twelve years in the making, well, we've been at it about 3 and a half, so we still have a lot of work to do. People on the writing websites say join the groups, attend the conferences and get out there and meet people! They are so right! You just have to quit hiding in your little writer's desk and go to the conferences. Of course, yes, that's putting money out there before you even get published, but all those who are experienced are willing to help and be your cheerleading section. And you meet other new people, who are so fresh and excited and you can be excited with each other. Who knew there were so many fascinating stories to be told?<br />
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Speaking of stories to tell, I also pushed myself and wrote a picture book (in addition to the middle grade I am working on with the best author partner in the world, yes I'm biased). I entered it in a contest! The book is found <a href="http://www.meegenius.com/challenge/alice-in-the-palace-the-real-life-story-of-a-part-time-princess-by-jennifer-van-haaften">here</a> and if you like it, please pass it around the blog-o-sphere and encourage your friends, family, relatives and the guy down the street to stop by my story page and "like" it too! Click the caption below for more on the rules and MeeGenius!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.meegenius.com/challenge/howitworks">MeeGenius! rules and website</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Thanks for playing!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8209785482041222629.post-27417347820227826512011-09-07T12:14:00.000-05:002011-09-07T12:14:00.299-05:00Edith Wharton: American Jane Austen?Edith Wharton, writing nearly a century later than Jane, is what I believe to be a cynical version of Jane Austen. At least in the <i>House of Mirth</i>. She can write about the nuances of behavior and looks, the confusion between men and women about love, power, or intent in the confines of society rules. But I find Edith a bit more cynical. I don't believe she means for her heroine to triumph, even though I'm only 1/3 of the way through the novel. We shall see. But I would recommend checking out her works. Next on my list is the<i> Age of Innocence</i>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8209785482041222629.post-71951089803880715842011-09-06T12:09:00.000-05:002011-09-06T12:09:00.452-05:00Horrible HistoriesMy new favorite past time (ha, ha, no pun intended) is watching clips from Horrible Histories, a British children's show about the icky and creepy stuff from the past.<br />
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Be sure to check out all the offerings on YouTube you can find. It will entertain you for hours!
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8209785482041222629.post-4505391107365627422011-09-05T09:04:00.000-05:002011-09-05T09:04:00.572-05:00For someone who loves historic clothing of all kindsOnly thing I wish they did in this video was to label the slower version with the actual years they were hitting as they danced back to 2011. Otherwise this is a fun romp.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="255" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7JxfgId3XTs" width="400"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Wisconsin, USA43.7844397 -88.787867840.8499922 -93.841578800000008 46.7188872 -83.7341568tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8209785482041222629.post-3361221788927526842011-09-04T07:09:00.000-05:002011-09-04T07:09:00.311-05:00Thinking me like the new Blogger interfaceI am getting sucked into more computer media. I've been using the new Blogger interface (what the hell, be an early adopter) and find it is fascinating to get a look at which posts have gotten the most views. So much easier than trying to use a site counter. Now I know which posts have attracted the most looks. Funny. I will have to send the Blogger folks some feedback. Maybe this will get me back in the game. I was going to be all chronically about my life as a forty-year-old. Turns out pretty much like a 39 year old. So it's been hard to see where I should go with this blog. Maybe the new feedback info will help.<br />
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Look out world.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8209785482041222629.post-8194043951845091142011-09-03T07:00:00.000-05:002011-09-03T07:00:03.411-05:00Questions of balanceSome days, I feel I'm a lazy mom. I was just reviewing what I did, or did not do, with my kids the week I had off before school started. I am afraid I just let them veg in front of the TV or with a video or computer game for too long. I had no gumption to get out of my pjs before noon. I spent too much of my time letting them do whatever with each other with electronics. Usually, I let this get to me, but that week, I just let go. I was tired from work and let my brain rot. Rot on reading FB posts, emails and strange internet news. Wandered around the house organizing small piles of stuff here and there. Catching up on DVR shows. Reading several different books at once: a guidebook on Maui, a book about weight training and the House of Mirth.<br />
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About noon I would realize I needed to get dressed and "do something." And maybe feed my kids lunch. Most days, lunch came at 1:30 pm. I did take them to a museum and we spent quite a bit of time there. They did have soccer practice at 5 pm several days that week, so I guess I felt justified in letting them veg in front of the TV. Three days that week, I also got them to the pool and one day my daughter and I went to the farmer's market. So I did make an effort to get us away from the house. Just not really hard.<br />
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So I know other people who talk about writing in gratitude journals, taking walks at sunrise for inspiration, taking time to think and ponder on the meaning of life, finding time to exercise, wanting to make sure that they spend as much time as they can as a family without TV, video, or computer. I feel a pang of guilt, because I feel I am not being a deep person, not making life meaningful for my children, not facilitating their sense of self and spirituality. I feel guilty that I'm not spending more time with them.<br />
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Then I realize, I wouldn't be happy doing that. I can't sit and be emotional and spiritual in front of my children. I have to be matter of fact, open and honest but matter of fact. Logical and straight from the hip. I also want my me time, which, I guess, for me, is to spend some time on the computer web surfing. I surf for information, often reading news articles and Wikipedia, for questions that come up. I relax by watching goofy SyFy shows and just letting my brain turn to mush. I don't want to spend every waking minute with my kids, I want them to find ways to entertain themselves. Maybe they need to see me doing more reading, like when I lost an hour just reading about Maui and suddenly realized I should shower and work on lunch.<br />
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I ponder life's problems driving to work, always. I have composed some awesome blog posts in my head. But as soon as I get to work, they are forgotten, because I must deal with the mundaneness of work. I probably get enough time to wonder as I drive to/from work and maybe I don't need to write it all down. It is enough to think it through in my head. I defy being there every minute for my kid and embrace the lazy parenting attitude. <br />
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Come to think of it, when I was kid, I was outside, wandering the front and back yard and next door parking lot. I don't remember spending a lot of time playing with my parents in elementary school. They were doing whatever parents do and it didn't make a good or bad impression on me. It just was. So I think we have some time yet to get it all in and I'm not going to sweat the small stuff. It will come when it needs to and will shape our family life however it can. They will grow up how they are supposed to.<br />
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Because that is just how it is.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8209785482041222629.post-38111953252378672492011-09-02T23:09:00.002-05:002011-09-02T23:09:36.956-05:00Nostalgia: that's what all those posts are forDid a little look through my "favorites" and I decided I chose well. They reminded me of times and stories I hadn't thought about in a long time. So maybe that's what the blog is for, to look back, laugh, be glad I recorded it somewhere and to come back to it time and time again. Sigh, dream of the sweet days gone by. They were soooo cute, but they can be something else even now.
The oldest and I sat down and reviewed the middle school handbook. I'm one of those parents who does exactly what the letters from the principal says to do. Goes over the handbook *with* my child. It was a good time to discuss what could, might, or what he should expect to happen and to have him declare that he would get A+'s only and he would never, ever end up in anything other than Honor Level One (which means no demerits. Really? They use demerits at this school?). We read all the classroom policies he brought home, signed all the papers promising he would abide by teachers' rules and I would be the back up to enforce that he abide by teachers' rules. Then I had him stuff them back in his backpack. For Tuesday.
Yes, I'm an overachiever. I'm going to finish MY homework ahead of time, so I can relax and enjoy the weekend (well, Monday anyway, I am working the next two days.).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8209785482041222629.post-52512394855167067522011-09-01T21:40:00.000-05:002011-09-01T21:40:21.244-05:00First day of schoolI am just blown away by the fact that my oldest is in middle school. This should not come as shock, there are people who I know with their youngest leaving for college, but still, I am probably more nervous about middle school than he is.<br />
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My favorite comment about middle school from him today was that "It isn't like on TV where there's a lot of bullies in middle school." Good call, my dear boy, I think we need to talk about fact vs. fiction again.<br />
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The other thing I had to get over was that they are now in two separate schools until he is a senior and she is a freshman.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uhnzCN2sw50/TmBBzomsuCI/AAAAAAAAAx0/nESOKmj0iQg/s1600/school1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uhnzCN2sw50/TmBBzomsuCI/AAAAAAAAAx0/nESOKmj0iQg/s320/school1.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>More passages this year.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8209785482041222629.post-46021125024804314492011-08-06T11:10:00.001-05:002011-08-06T11:10:00.529-05:00The insanityNearly twenty years ago, I took this test, in anticipation of taking school to the next level: a master's degree. Here I am, so many years later, signing up to take the GREs. This, in anticipation of possibly, maybe, going ahead with a doctorate. I think I might be insane.<br />
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Differences: Now the test is on a computer. The price has gone up exponentially. I can take the test not on a Saturday. My brain has not been in the school mode for at least 12 years. I am a little more freaked out.<br />
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Worst part is that I did, actually, amazingly well the last time. I wish I could have just kept that score. Unfortunately, they let them expire after five years. So, I am worried that I will not do so well. Don't we lose brain cells every year?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8209785482041222629.post-40340892313916016642011-08-05T11:09:00.000-05:002011-08-05T11:09:57.151-05:00Ah, me!Yes, where has a whole month gone by. I was going to get all excited about being forty. Being forty means living up to responsibilities, which is working so that I can have health benefits for my family. And work I did. I am getting too old to do so many weekend days. I'm just tired of being a weekend worker. I should have known better working in museums. Our visiting public is on the weekends.<br />
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Instead, let's think of nicer things: lovely CSA (community supported agriculture) foods that are no longer mostly salad greens. The first beets of the season, roasted on the grill, sliced and served with a shallot, red wine and balsamic vinegrette and feta cheese. Son taking on his first triathlon, finishing and not last, as he hoped. Siblings offering to organize another family trip to Hawaii (oh, how we all adored Hawaii and together!). Husband doing so much better after some major surgery. He is a trooper and I love him for taking on the challenge so that he can eventually feel so much better. Getting on the bike again after too long. The super heat ending, somewhat. I hope it stays down for the next few days. Starting in a writing group, making me read, share and critique. Reading new YA books. Deciding to read the House of Mirth, it's good to keep up with the classics. Daughter enjoying her Laura Ingalls Wilder day camp.<br />
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Ah, that's better.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8209785482041222629.post-46387794427934123432011-06-28T17:26:00.000-05:002011-06-28T17:26:53.153-05:00Recovering from my 40th birthday week!Oh, yesterday I had to go back to work. (boo) I had spent the last week and a few days with family and friends and enjoyed it all. It started with a trip back to my home state. I met up with my sister and her daughter and our cousin who is my sister's age and her family during a nice downtown concert. After Chipotle, a playgym and some rocking ice cream I headed back to the hotel with the kiddos. We continued with the celebration of my brother's marriage to a really great gal, which was a nice time, but all too short. My dear sister and one of her daughters rode back with me and my kids in the car. That was a fun trip. A bit long, but we took breaks for gas and Cold Stone, and a Subway pit stop.<br />
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The week was anything goes. The kids had summer school, so my sister and her kid got up at leisurely hours. We did things a toddler could handle, walks to the swing and to the park, playing in the backyard, pulling out trains from my son's toddler days, riding tricycles and bikes. My kids, being 6 and 9 years her senior, did surprisingly well with a small toddler cousin (who is only just two and can tell you in whole paragraphs about anything and everything, which floored me). A run to the tattoo place (which you already know), a visit to an indoor pool (hey, it may be summer, but it still is Wisconsin), a few naps, mommy bike rides and mommy runs and a couple of visits to our favorite ice cream place.<br />
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And the late nights. My sister and I come from a night owl, our mother. Our brother also seems to have gotten this gene. If we could all get up at 10 am and stay up until 2 am, I think we'd feel we had it made. (My poor dad falls asleep by 8 pm, but is up and at them by 5 am.) Good thing I didn't have to work, but I did have to get up somewhat early as I had to send a couple of kids off to summer school on time. I drank a lot of iced coffee this week. But those late nights were good for reconnecting and discussing all sorts of kid raising issues, friends, old times, things we remembered.<br />
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Your siblings and parents have known you the longest and at your youngest. Though we change as we grow older, there's something comforting knowing that someone knew you "before." What you liked and disliked, how you acted as a kid. They may have changed, but still things stay the same.<br />
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My birthday rolled around and I had a brother, a sister-in-law, a sister, a brother-in-law, two nieces, two kids of my own, a husband and friends from way back, friends who are tight with me now, and newer friends that are gracious and fascinating. Not everyone could show up and they were missed, but it was the right amount and right mix of people. We had a great time at the park, all the kids that came got along very well and the set up and take down was so easy with all my relatives at hand. My high school friends sent me my "over-the-hill" flowers, which made me smile. <br />
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One of my very best college friends made the trip with her family, which was fantastic since the last time we saw each other might have been two years ago. People came and went with food and we nearly got rid of all the cake the first time around. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fQtCgvNP2rE/TgpUNUbkqGI/AAAAAAAAAxI/rIkEScT6RBk/s1600/me+and+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fQtCgvNP2rE/TgpUNUbkqGI/AAAAAAAAAxI/rIkEScT6RBk/s320/me+and+cake.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>It was a great way to start the forties.<br />
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The night ended late, as only we siblings can do. The kids were in rare form, making up dance recitals and plays, while the adults gathered at the kitchen table to reminisce about childhoods, giving away family secrets to spouses, gentle teasing and literal ribbing. The next morning, before all my siblings and spouses left, we took pictures. <br />
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Now, you will note that me and my siblings seem to be on the short side. That is correct.<br />
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And you may note that our spouses are on the tall side. That is also correct.<br />
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I think we all had some innate need to even out the gene pool.<br />
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I am contemplating that maybe my career should be in getting together with my family and friends. Life would be perfect, then. There's just this little thing called money (and health benefits) that would not be forthcoming with that lifestyle. I need to keep looking. If I could combine a career with a way to get to see my family and friends every day, or at least once a week, I might find what I'm looking for in life.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8209785482041222629.post-35386556427014415382011-06-25T12:55:00.000-05:002011-06-25T12:55:14.455-05:00Fabulous Forty<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h04CH9YZcpI&feature=related">John Cougar Mellencamp</a>, I'm sorry, but I think you got it wrong:<br />
<br />
"Oh, yeah, life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone.... Hold on to sixteen as long as you can..."<br />
<br />
Don't hold on to sixteen as long as you can. It gets better and better.<br />
<br />
And the thrill of living is just getting started.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8209785482041222629.post-27669905601228245662011-06-21T10:21:00.000-05:002011-06-21T10:21:15.932-05:00I think this qualifies as slightly wildHaving kicked off my week of celebrating with visiting my cousin (makes you feel like a kid again), celebrating my brother's marriage to a really great woman at a reception dinner, bringing my sister and one of her girls home to stay with me for the week, I continue with my birthday week celebration with the following:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d_p0-Hz8RuU/TgC2QA4voYI/AAAAAAAAAww/tkyNZ7yj7S0/s1600/stencil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d_p0-Hz8RuU/TgC2QA4voYI/AAAAAAAAAww/tkyNZ7yj7S0/s320/stencil.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UwAO9Y6Kc08/TgC2RwngHvI/AAAAAAAAAw0/gRhoHAWNqEw/s1600/HPIM2834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UwAO9Y6Kc08/TgC2RwngHvI/AAAAAAAAAw0/gRhoHAWNqEw/s320/HPIM2834.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yWvNGtCOee4/TgC2TonjQxI/AAAAAAAAAw4/t2c8mR7Iumg/s1600/color.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yWvNGtCOee4/TgC2TonjQxI/AAAAAAAAAw4/t2c8mR7Iumg/s320/color.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u35myB55i7U/TgC2cmKtT2I/AAAAAAAAAw8/23dmB6FeFoo/s1600/Tattoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u35myB55i7U/TgC2cmKtT2I/AAAAAAAAAw8/23dmB6FeFoo/s320/Tattoo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Wild Child indeed. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8209785482041222629.post-82523610704154238162011-06-13T10:00:00.006-05:002011-06-13T10:00:14.188-05:00HappinessHappiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.<br />
<br />
<br />
<em>-Attributed to Nathaniel Hawthorne and/or Henry David Thoreau in various forms.</em>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8209785482041222629.post-62000278611605338092011-06-12T12:48:00.000-05:002011-06-12T12:48:24.084-05:00What evolutionary purpose does this have?Why is it, when my son, who completed fifth grade this year, walked across the stage and took his certificate of completion from his teacher, that I teared up like I was going to cry forever? Why did I feel an ache and sadness while watching the slide show of pictures of the whole school of fifth graders with pictures of my son at various stages in his elementary school career, including the one where he and his sister pose in front of the school sign on her first day of kindergarten? Why does my throat lump up as the principal and teachers tell the kids how great they've been and how great they'll all do in middle school?<br />
<br />
Shouldn't I be so happy that he's growing into a responsible young man and is ready for his next level of development? That he's going to take his challenges and manage them well? What makes me so sad and weepy?<br />
<br />
At this rate, I am going to need a box of tissues and permission to bawl my eyes out when he graduates from high school, and when he gets married, I may need some people holding me up.<br />
<br />
PS--I don't remember such a fuss being made of me finishing sixth grade (which was the top grade in elementary back when I was a kid). Maybe it didn't impact me all that much. We'll have to check with my mom and see if she was weepy.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8209785482041222629.post-68092454706990290932011-06-11T16:48:00.000-05:002011-06-11T16:48:43.412-05:00Stupid numberSo, I am trying to be all positive about that number 4-0. I feel great. For the most part. There are maybe a few aches and pains that surprise me. Recovery time maybe takes a little longer from some exercise, but that could just be I'm not in the top shape I could be.<br />
<br />
I don't think I look much different from my 30s and 20s. There's a wrinkle here and there, or a sag, but on the other hand, I am a mother and going to be 40, so I should forgive these. And I should also remember that no one notices what I see.<br />
<br />
Logically I tell myself to not be obsessed with images, numbers, age. I should work from what I have and make it the best it can feel: healthy and strong. Compare myself to myself and remember I am a forty year old and that's exactly where I should be.<br />
<br />
As one friend put it, we should all be so lucky to arrive at forty. She's damn right. There are a few acquaintances, high school classmates that didn't. I should be thankful and thankful for the many more years that I hope to look forward to. And take my own advice and use up the body for what it was meant to. Gather the wisdom and stay healthy and strong.<br />
<br />
Youth is wasted on the young. Old age should not long for the looks of youth, but use the wisdom to create a healthy and happy life to be enjoyed to the fullest.<br />
<br />
'Bout time I take my own advice.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8209785482041222629.post-71621387859257658852011-06-10T09:00:00.000-05:002011-06-08T11:31:29.528-05:00Oh, I'm so addictedSomebody stop me.<br />
<br />
First I bought this: <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X3xHOB3Se-o/Te-gaP9CtNI/AAAAAAAAAwc/Wf4jSqD_H9E/s1600/trek_73fxwsd_2011_blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X3xHOB3Se-o/Te-gaP9CtNI/AAAAAAAAAwc/Wf4jSqD_H9E/s320/trek_73fxwsd_2011_blue.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
But to use that, I wanted the shoes:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m3GbJ6IXap4/Te-gvYHciRI/AAAAAAAAAwg/-xnC1sPKfFc/s1600/200px-Bontrager_Race_Mountain_Shoes_WSD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m3GbJ6IXap4/Te-gvYHciRI/AAAAAAAAAwg/-xnC1sPKfFc/s1600/200px-Bontrager_Race_Mountain_Shoes_WSD.jpg" /></a></div><br />
And of course with the shoes I need the cleats and the right pedals:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yLpbhQmxwMM/Te-hN6p6lRI/AAAAAAAAAwk/P5wTh7NyJf8/s1600/shimano-pd-m324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yLpbhQmxwMM/Te-hN6p6lRI/AAAAAAAAAwk/P5wTh7NyJf8/s320/shimano-pd-m324.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I had a bad dream that I could never click into the pedals properly. You'd think I'd be more worried about falling down. But then I fell down. I had to literally get back in the saddle and get over that fear. I also started not being able to click in properly. Finally it helped that the local bike shop loosen the parts on the pedals that hold the cleats. By the way, if you bike with any regularity and without the cleats, I highly suggest getting the cleats.<br />
<br />
<br />
I rode (without cleats) about 10 miles back in April. Cold, but I loved it, but really should have been carrying a water bottle. So I had to get the water bottle carrier:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZoEmxmAxunA/Te-hlceJPsI/AAAAAAAAAwo/a5tPY7tnJIs/s1600/Bottlecg.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZoEmxmAxunA/Te-hlceJPsI/AAAAAAAAAwo/a5tPY7tnJIs/s320/Bottlecg.gif" width="260" /></a></div><br />
After that ride, which was my longest on the road up to that point, I also felt pretty butt sore. I hadn't been in my spinning classes (I've been taking since January), so I thought I was fine. But, I had to go and buy the biking shorts with padding. (The matching shirt didn't hurt either, love those colors) Bliss:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dndZ5MXl92g/Te-iA6sXAgI/AAAAAAAAAws/LTvbJrqD_0c/s1600/1007_bontrager_jersey_shorts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dndZ5MXl92g/Te-iA6sXAgI/AAAAAAAAAws/LTvbJrqD_0c/s1600/1007_bontrager_jersey_shorts.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I also had really numb hands after my first long ride. My friend loaned me some on the next ride, so I had to get my own pair. Got a mirror, got a carrier for the front of my bike and finally added a kick stand because I got tired of leaning the bike up against things.<br />
<br />
Nobody tell my husband. However, since he's done reenacting in the past, I'm sure his bill for his two guns (<a href="http://fcsutler.com/fcweapons.asp">here</a> and <a href="http://www.militaryheritage.com/musket1.htm">here</a> and this is not including his historic clothing or camp gear) came to more than what I've spent up to now. Maybe some glasses to protect my eyes? I already had the helmet.<br />
<br />
Somebody stop me.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8209785482041222629.post-10215202588631543272011-06-09T09:00:00.000-05:002011-06-08T11:31:06.596-05:00Thinking about fortyPeople sometimes get all worked up about twenty and thirty, but I think we can all agree forty is quite the milestone. It's ever present in my life, because my high school class is all going through it at the same time. Facebook makes that fact ever present. I think that's great. I don't feel so bad, because we are all in the same boat. It's allowed me to make it a bit of fun, too.<br />
<br />
When I was a senior in high school (still sweet seventeen) myself and the three other girls who were seniors in the show choir got wind of the fact that our music teacher was turning forty. We got the date, which, I believe was a Monday. We made a plan. We got the band teacher in on it. We gathered our forty decorating supplies and waited in the school parking lot the night before. Our band teacher arrived and let us in the music room. We filled the office with black streamers and black balloons and signs all over the room proclaiming his age to the whole world. One of my sneaky friends had ordered a "dead bouquet" which was black roses with a stuffed bird hanging upside down on a limb (get it? dead bird).<br />
<br />
The next day, we made sure we were by the music room bright and early. He was quite surprised. He took it in stride. Then we were gathered for our show choir class during the lunch hour period. The bouquet arrived. He was flustered, but appreciative. We 17 and 18 year olds thought we were so clever.<br />
<br />
Now, here we are 22 years later. Um, now we know what forty feels like. Some of us take it in stride. Some of us are hesitant about this number. Some of us are ready to celebrate this milestone like crazy. I cooked up a plan with two of the three others. We found our own "dead bouquet" (which are very hard to find now, I was disappointed, but mine came from <a href="http://www.giftsforgeezers.com/black-roses.asp">Gifts for Geezers</a>, whew!) and we all pitched in and sent it to our first victim who turned forty on New Year's Day. She was a bit hesitant about the number, but appreciated the bouquet and told her husband the story of making our music teacher's wonderland of forty decorating. It made her smile. Two more have had their birthdays. Lucky me! I'm the one left. I'm expecting nothing less than the "dead bouquet."<br />
<br />
I'm all about that quote:<br />
<blockquote>Life <b>should not</b> be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, champagne in one hand - strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming: WOO HOO, WHAT A RIDE!</blockquote><br />
I am looking at the number 40 and thinking, dang, I have a whole lot more I can do and accomplish and it doesn't have to be professional. I need to get a tattoo. I need to ride RAGBRAI. I need to spend more time decompressing and enjoying my family and friends. I need to spend more time on writing and working on PUBLISHING, even if it starts with just a magazine. I need to save for my quilt/tea shop, so I can open one (hey, I don't have any plans for my 50 decade yet). I need to get more involved in my community, state, and nation, because professional politicians are not getting the job done, and if I don't do it, who will?<br />
<br />
I am hitting this decade running and I hope to leave it proud.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8209785482041222629.post-73304832737439837562011-06-08T11:01:00.000-05:002011-06-08T11:01:39.458-05:00A Woman Never Tells Her AgeYeah, right.<br />
<br />
I am nearing that magical age of forty. Not quite there yet, but it is at the end of the month. Fabled as the middle ages (this assuming that I am living until 80, but with the family genes of women in my family living until the 90s, doesn't quite work for me), I am excited about this decade.<br />
<br />
Everyone can pshaw me. I have a complex about being treated as younger than I am. I will say, I know I look younger, which is fine in social situations and not an issue for me. Usually this bugs me most in a work situation. It is getting more fun to say I'm in my late thirties, but still, I get the "you're still young" statement at work more times than I can count. In my twenties, I thought, fair enough, but I do have ideas I would like to try. In my early thirties, sure, I've only been out of grad school for 5-10 years, I need to get some time under my belt. But now I'm starting to get a bit peeved. How many years should one expect to be in the work force to get respect for experience? So I keep thinking that maybe 40 is the magical number. That this is the time that people will say, "Ok, yeah, she's been around the block a few times." On the other hand, I have always worked with people older than me, so I guess they deserve to lord their years of experience over me. But I would like them to acknowledge that I have spent enough time in my business to warrant a nod of recognition that I do know what I am doing, on occasion.<br />
<br />
This has been a fun year on Facebook. Old high school pals and acquaintances have been turning 40. I've been trying to say witty and fun things for everyone's 40th birthday. I think we all should embrace the 40 and run with it. So many sayings about 40 is the new 20 and all that.<br />
<br />
I have noticed, once the kids got older, it leaves more time for mom and dad to look back to themselves again. I have a goal to participate in the Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) next year. I've done spin classes since January and try to get in 2-4 bike rides a week. I'm impressed with myself in staying power in tackling 20+ miles. I know I need to boost this number by quite a lot, but I'm very psyched about what I've started. I think my son was inspired enough that he is going to sign up for a youth triathlon. I'm almost thinking about doing it. I never believed I was an athletic person in jr. high and high school. Now I believe that maybe people like me might have responded better, if I hadn't been compared to my peers' abilities, but instead compared to my own abilities and that improvement over time was emphasized instead of trying to get me to beat the fastest people in class. Seeing improvement in oneself is a great reward already. It might be more motivating to kids rather than comparison to each other. (I suppose that might also apply to learning)<br />
<br />
Hitting this decade also makes me a bit reflective. What have I done with my life until now? What haven't I done that I used to do, that I should do more of? What really matters? Should I be doing more to improve the world, or is improving my part of the world, no matter how small, enough?<br />
<br />
Nostalgia also hits. I sometimes wish I could have told my teenage self that the things I cried over were really not worth it in the end, because they didn't matter in the long run. But that is what age is for, to understand what is not worth it in the long run and to pare down your life into what is really worth it.<br />
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I'm taking you with me on this journey of hitting the big 4-0 from before the big day to beyond. Let's see what this 40th decade is all about. I am going at it with a cando attitude and challenging ideas of myself that may not be totally true and need to be changed.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8209785482041222629.post-80835335373523819892011-04-09T10:36:00.000-05:002011-04-09T10:36:35.885-05:00Spring Cleaning at WorkSo, how satisfying is it to clean out your email? Actually, quite a bit. I was using 160MB of my mailbox. I went through the inbox and sent mail portions, then went and deleted it out of the deleted box and cut it down to 75 MB. Lots of email from the second half of last year that I hadn't had a chance to clean out. Then I went through files. When you move office, you find you have a number of files that you need to comb through and whittle down. Most of yesterday I spent shredding a lot of those files (yes, it was sensitive information) for about four years worth of stuff. So I didn't accomplish much of anything else (filled the shredder about five times though), but it was satisfying to get my office less full of boxes and putting the files away.<br />
<br />
Now, if I could just get that feeling about the papers laying around my house. They just keep coming. School papers, ads from the mail, bills, stuff I need to make a decision or take action on. I also need to finish taxes. They are almost done, but need to force myself to do them.<br />
<br />
Remember my organization from <a href="http://nakedopinions.blogspot.com/2011/01/kings-speech-and-other-asundries-rtt.html">several weeks ago</a>? Ok, maybe a few months ago already. Yeah, that lasted about a week.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8209785482041222629.post-7900923246405461872011-04-08T16:44:00.000-05:002011-04-08T16:44:51.769-05:00I dreamed a dreamThis political fighting is getting to me. It's haunting me in my dreams.<br />
<br />
<blockquote>I am in a train car with separate compartments. I happen to be in a compartment with Speaker of the House Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Reid. I find I have a unique opportunity to speak to these two gentlemen. I start off by saying that I'm disgusted with the fact that they cannot work together to come up with a compromise. I state that life is full of compromises and we don't always get what we want. In fact, people who compromise are valued for their ability to do so. I'm tired of the bullying and standing off. Both men just sit and stare at me. I wax more poetic, telling them that I have a bachelor's and two master's degrees, and I can work with people to get things done. Then I say, but I don't need those to know that working together is better than not. All this I learned in kindergarten. Then I round on Mr. Speaker, telling him that he should play well with others, and learn to share and that kindergarteners get this better than he does. Then I yell at them both for sitting in their offices, getting perks, privileges, and extra money, just for having been elected. I said they were out of touch and no politician really knows about what they do and how it affects people. I said they didn't deserve the salaries and the high paying friends they had because they weren't getting the job done.</blockquote>I woke up, still angry about the fact that these elected representatives aren't doing us a bit of good. I started wondering if we needed to limit Congressional terms as well. If they aren't worrying about getting re-elected, would they instead think ahead to the future and be brave enough to make the tough decisions to get us out of this mess.<br />
<br />
The commission on the budget has said we need to change Social Security and Medicare. They have suggested raising the age of retirement. They have also said to get us out of debt, we need to increase taxes. I'm sorry people, the reason why the banks failed was because too many Americans were over-extended. But there's no incentive to save. Not when savings rates are 1.35% and that's on a CD. Do you remember when you could get 5% on checking? Yes, really, on checking!!! Instead of getting more credit people, we have to spend our hard earned money. Yup, which means also the government needs our hard earned money to get out of debt. We can't keep living in lalaland thinking we are going to get out of this by cutting what we spend. Eventually, in a household, you don't eat, or don't drive your car, or don't pay your doctor bills. Then the household will implode. Not going to work for the government, either. It's going to hurt and if people on the left would quit crying about the entitlements, buck up and say, hey, ok, we'll raise the age limits and cut back some, and those on the right, if they would quit hollering, no taxes (I'm sorry guys, your hero Ron Reagan raised your taxes. He didn't like it, but he did it. He and Tip came to an understanding. So if you're going to be all excited about him, remember, he PLAYED WELL WITH OTHERS). Right wingers, we cannot be policemen of the world and spend our money on the military if you're not going to pay for it!<br />
<br />
So, I'm thinking, I'm tired of politicians. I would like to see the regular folks say, enough is enough. And I mean moderates, not Tea Party unknowns or extreme liberals. Moderates, who would think about running for office, think about only staying in one term, and if enough of us got there, would we be able to tackle the hard questions, talk civilly to each other and come to a compromise? I would hope so. But civilly minded people don't run for office. Winners run for office, and they want to keep winning and have their opinions win.<br />
<br />
It is getting so divided. I will admit it, I find myself being a hater. I hate being angry at the TV, angry at the person who votes against me or my position, angry at the people who won't work together, tense because I'm judging people before I really should, just because they are of a certain party. I am tired of extremes. I want a civil conversation. I want my conversation to have give and take and, in the end, I want both groups to say, hey, that was a lot of hard work, but we each got a say and what we produced is something we ALL can be proud of.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8209785482041222629.post-13420329727950865332011-03-22T08:44:00.001-05:002011-03-22T08:44:00.752-05:00Random Tuesday--Spring Edition<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theunmom.com/" mce_href="http://www.theunmom.com"><img alt="randomtuesday" mce_src="http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb9/superkeely/randomtuesday.jpg" src="http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb9/superkeely/randomtuesday.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
While you are reading this, I am in a water park with my kids. The water park has a flow rider. I want to try to fake surf.<br />
<br />
I love how my kids love America's Funniest Videos. It's so cute to listen to them laugh.<br />
<br />
Julie/Julia was a really good movie. I should check out the book. This is courtesy of the fact that our satellite provider has all the Starz channels on complimentary for a year. Something about being their 30th year in business (really 30 years?). So we're seeing movies that were out recently. Many of them I am glad I never spent the money in the theatre for.<br />
<br />
My ideal job would be to go antique picking. If I could go with <a href="http://www.history.com/shows/american-pickers">Mike and Frank</a> on the History Channel, that would be a blast!<br />
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I'm trying out <a href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/noscript/">NoScript</a> to protect myself from getting clickjacked on Facebook. Do you know what clickjacking is? Neither do I, I have no idea how it happens, but maybe it won't happen now. If anyone knows anything more let me know.<br />
<br />
Go, be random!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8209785482041222629.post-64487939207223255302011-03-01T14:21:00.000-06:002011-03-01T14:21:03.024-06:00Random Tuesday--Getting out of the shadows<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theunmom.com/" mce_href="http://www.theunmom.com"><img alt="randomtuesday" mce_src="http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb9/superkeely/randomtuesday.jpg" src="http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb9/superkeely/randomtuesday.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
Ok, I could talk about <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/02/26/wisconsin.budget.bill/">this</a>, but I think we all know what's going on there, so we'll let others deal with it for now.<br />
<br />
Instead, I'd like to talk about The King's Speech. A movie I have not seen, but desperately want to. But I am so happy one of my favorite actors got an Oscar.<br />
<br />
Very handsome and modest.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-PnyW-S_HbKM/TWxY5625VaI/AAAAAAAAAwI/V63totgMAAs/s1600/colin+firth+oscars+2011-600x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-PnyW-S_HbKM/TWxY5625VaI/AAAAAAAAAwI/V63totgMAAs/s320/colin+firth+oscars+2011-600x400.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <a href="http://www.watoday.com.au/entertainment/oscars/jim-schembris-verdict-on-the-2011-oscars-20110228-1bbji.html">here</a>.</td></tr>
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What else? Oh, I guess my book won't take as long as <a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/03/01/133965740/doing-the-first-novel-hustle-the-oracle-of-stamboul?sc=fb&cc=fp">this</a>. At least I hope not.<br />
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And today is the first day of metereological spring. Yay! February is over, March is in like a lamb and I really, really, really want a new bike. I'm thinking <a href="http://www.trekbikes.com/">Trek</a> women specific design. Trek is made in my home state, I think I should put my money back into my state.<br />
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If a person has a master's degree, how much money do you think they should be making annually? $30k? $40K? $50K? $60K? I suppose you will say, well it all depends on what you do. But, if everyone with masters has to take 60 hours of credit and write a thesis, no matter what the subject, and have to pay the tuition and fees, what should they have to show for it at the end? And if they shouldn't need a master's, then what is the case for postgraduate education? What is the purpose?<br />
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(Yeah, the ulterior motive is I want to see if I'm making what other people think I'm worth. I have two masters by the way.) And if you haven't seen Keely, head over to the UnMom via the ugly button at the top.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6