It has been closer to "normal" weather this week. The three storms that hit over Christmas break weren't really that unusual, except that they all hit in such a short period of time, without any time in between for the snow to melt. And that it was so cold, too.
The snow is all gone now, and has been for a few weeks, except, of course, for the piles in various parking lots. Those'll probably be there until spring. We've had a few flurries in the mean-time, and about a week where we didn't see the sun at all, with several days of winter fog. That was rather depressing.
I figured that today would be another day where we didn't see the sun, since the clouds seemed so thick this morning. But by this afternoon, it's grown brighter again, and the sun is out.
I've heard (not from the weather forecasters, just from people talking) that the weather in February is supposed to be like it was in December, that the storms that whacked us in December are making their way all the way around the globe, and will be hitting us again. It's too early to see how true that is, but somehow I doubt that a series of storms could keep their coherency that long, across several continents and oceans. It may be that I'm just underestimating the stubbornness of storms, though. I know that once hurricanes start reaching a large expanse of dry land, they start breaking up, so that we in Missouri only receive the faintest brush from them. We can get some good thunderstorms out of them (especially if the warm, moist air from the south hits some particularly cool air from the north), but that's about it.
But, anyway, it's been almost warm outside these last couple of days. Warm for January/February, anyway. This type of weather would be downright cold in August. I hope it stays that way for a while. But you know what they say about Missouri weather. If you don't like it, wait a day, it'll change.
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Christmas Bells
by Henry W. Longfellow
I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
I thought how as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said.
"For hate is strong, and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep.
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."
Till ringing, singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day--
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men!
I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
I thought how as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said.
"For hate is strong, and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep.
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."
Till ringing, singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day--
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men!
Friday, September 25, 2009
Our new dog, Rocky
Last Saturday (Sept 12), we went down to Wayside Waifs and got a dog. We'd been wanting to get a dog for a long time, and have been seriously considering that the time was getting close for about a year. Wayside Waifs was having a promotion that weekend, half-off the adoption fee, so it seemed a good time to go down and look at the dogs, and see if the dog we were looking for was there.
I'd been thinking that I'd like a dog that was about 20 pounds or so, like both dogs I had growing up were. Big enough so as not to be stepped on too easily, but not too big. I didn't really care what breed, in fact, a mutt would do nicely.
Of course, the dog we saw and all fell in love with at the shelter is a much bigger dog than that. He's about 60 pounds (they weighed him at 50 pounds at the shelter, and 60 pounds at the vet the next day. I think someone's scale is off). He's got black hair, with reddish-brown highlights around his ears and the fringe of his fore-paws. They think he's about 2 years old. That's about the age I wanted, not a puppy, but still pretty young. Probably what drew us to him was the paper they had on the door of his kennel, with a little bio on it. Most of the other dogs just had their basic information up about them. I wish I had that bio, but the basic info on it was something like this: He'd been transferred there from another shelter where he'd run out of time, to this one. Back when they got him, he had some sort of skin condition that caused him to lose a lot of his fur, but that's better now. He's really smart and eager to please, loves playing with other dogs.
We can tell that he's a really great dog. An over-grown puppy, really, that doesn't know his own strength, and needs to be taught a few manners, but really loving. He spends most of the day sleeping, but gets into what we're calling his "super-hyperdrive mode". He runs around crazily, chasing his tail, growling at his toys, and the like. It probably means he's not getting enough exercise. I've been trying to run him a little when we go on our walks around the house, and on the longer walks. When I'm walking with one of the kids, I let them run him. We've also started putting him out on the line the previous owners of the house set up for their dogs. It runs between the deck and a tree on the edge of the lot. He can probably go about 8 feet on either side of the line. Don't worry, we're not going to leave him out there alone for hours. I've been putting him on it, and then sitting in our sky chair, watching him, and knitting, reading, or writing, for about an hour. Then I put him back on the leash, and walk out to get Gidget from the bus stop.
The main problem we've had with Rocky has been him "pooping" inside the house. He's picked a spot in the play-room, and goes there. On the carpet, of course. He was supposed to be housebroken, and has no problem wetting outside. We're not sure what the problem is, if he's just not used to the idea of pooping while on the leash, or what. I'm hopeful, he's pooped outside twice within the last two days, that he'll get the idea, and stop pooping inside. It hasn't happened yet, though.
Rocky also has a bad habit of "mouthing" things when he gets excited. He jumps about and puts his mouth on things. I've been trying to tell the kids that he's not trying to bite them (even though we can feel his teeth), he's just excited, and trying to say how much he likes something. And screaming about him biting them is more likely to make him more excited, making the situation worse than better. They understand mentally, but are having trouble putting than understanding into action.
I'd been thinking that I'd like a dog that was about 20 pounds or so, like both dogs I had growing up were. Big enough so as not to be stepped on too easily, but not too big. I didn't really care what breed, in fact, a mutt would do nicely.
Of course, the dog we saw and all fell in love with at the shelter is a much bigger dog than that. He's about 60 pounds (they weighed him at 50 pounds at the shelter, and 60 pounds at the vet the next day. I think someone's scale is off). He's got black hair, with reddish-brown highlights around his ears and the fringe of his fore-paws. They think he's about 2 years old. That's about the age I wanted, not a puppy, but still pretty young. Probably what drew us to him was the paper they had on the door of his kennel, with a little bio on it. Most of the other dogs just had their basic information up about them. I wish I had that bio, but the basic info on it was something like this: He'd been transferred there from another shelter where he'd run out of time, to this one. Back when they got him, he had some sort of skin condition that caused him to lose a lot of his fur, but that's better now. He's really smart and eager to please, loves playing with other dogs.
We can tell that he's a really great dog. An over-grown puppy, really, that doesn't know his own strength, and needs to be taught a few manners, but really loving. He spends most of the day sleeping, but gets into what we're calling his "super-hyperdrive mode". He runs around crazily, chasing his tail, growling at his toys, and the like. It probably means he's not getting enough exercise. I've been trying to run him a little when we go on our walks around the house, and on the longer walks. When I'm walking with one of the kids, I let them run him. We've also started putting him out on the line the previous owners of the house set up for their dogs. It runs between the deck and a tree on the edge of the lot. He can probably go about 8 feet on either side of the line. Don't worry, we're not going to leave him out there alone for hours. I've been putting him on it, and then sitting in our sky chair, watching him, and knitting, reading, or writing, for about an hour. Then I put him back on the leash, and walk out to get Gidget from the bus stop.
The main problem we've had with Rocky has been him "pooping" inside the house. He's picked a spot in the play-room, and goes there. On the carpet, of course. He was supposed to be housebroken, and has no problem wetting outside. We're not sure what the problem is, if he's just not used to the idea of pooping while on the leash, or what. I'm hopeful, he's pooped outside twice within the last two days, that he'll get the idea, and stop pooping inside. It hasn't happened yet, though.
Rocky also has a bad habit of "mouthing" things when he gets excited. He jumps about and puts his mouth on things. I've been trying to tell the kids that he's not trying to bite them (even though we can feel his teeth), he's just excited, and trying to say how much he likes something. And screaming about him biting them is more likely to make him more excited, making the situation worse than better. They understand mentally, but are having trouble putting than understanding into action.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Accident
There's been some sort of accident right in front of my house. Check my Twitter for further details.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
October Curves Smart Report Card
Well, I got my second Curves Smart report card, and I can say I'm less than thrilled.
My weight stayed the same as last time time, but my measurements all stayed the same or decreased, so that's all right.
I had rather hoped the Workout Results time lines would gain dots as you had more reports, maybe showing the last four or five results, instead you just have the beginning and ending points. Which is helpful, I suppose, but I'd like to see how the numbers change with time.
The weird part is that it shows both my caloric burn and strength decreasing. I *know* that both have gone up. The last week or so I've been routinely getting over 600 calories burnt on regular workout days. IIRC, today's result was 618. Alternate days have been lower, of course. My PI from the last report was 274, this one is 308. This should, in theory, say that I've got quite a bit *more* strength than when I started, not less.
As near as anyone can figure out, it's the alternate days that are dragging the averages down. It's almost enough to make me not come in on alternate days (though I figured out this month that if I skip the alternate days, I'm far more likely to skip the regular days, too), or maybe come in an work out, but not check in or use my card. Or just use the treadmill or something (Shh!! don't tell Curves HQ they have one!)
When I came in on Monday, my PI was decreased by 0 (which I thought was a funny way to say "unchanged"), and today it was increased by 3. I previously had been able to keep in the greens, this time I had trouble. I'll get it next time. For once the stepper gave me reasonable heart rates the first time all three times it measured them. The first time, 128, after the warm up and three machines; both the next times about 145. I really hate it when I've been really working out, and I get on the stepper, and it tells me that my heart rate is 70. Stupid machine! It was more than that when I walked through the door.
I've also noticed that I still get breathless while on the circuit, but now my breath is nearly back to normal by the time I've finished stretching, in stead of some time later. So that's an improvement from when I started Curves Smart.
ETA: Now that I've had a chance to look over my previous "report card", I'm even more confused. the numbers that are "low" are higher than the previous "high" numbers. Where is their starting point?
Thursday, August 23, 2007
What book are you?
You're Cat's Cradle!
by Kurt Vonnegut
You believe quite firmly that free will deserted you long ago and far
away. As a result, it's hard to take responsibility for anything. Even though you show
great potential as a leader of a small 3rd world country, the choices are all made ahead
of time. You're rather fond of games involving string. Your fear of nuclear weaponry is
trumped only by your fear of ice.
Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Repost from Sims 2 blog.
For now, here's a first:
http://bbs.thesims2.ea.com/community/bbs/messages.php?&threadID=81f6b85943f503a946dc02095917b004&directoryID=2
Post by madamex5051ply:
Hello MR Estra why on earth do you ask simmers to view your picture album knowing their are NUDE sims floating around you are so darn nasty what if my little sis seen that crap this is rated T for Teens Sir not rated xxxx
My reply:
What on earth? Taking a picture of a known glitch changes my gender?
If you happen to be able to see a Sim on a floor above your selected Sim, there is no censor patch. I'm surprised you haven't seen this already in your game. It doesn't happen too often, but it does happen.
And I'm sure your little sister has seen naked Barbie dolls before. There is little difference, since the Sims have no secondary distinguishing marks.
And you could have expressed your concerns by signing my guestbook, contacting a SimMaster, or both, rather than drawing attention to it. I don't see anything wrong with the picture, but I will abide by a SimMaster's ruling on it, and remove it if one asks me to.
*****
The picture in question is located in my photobucket account here:
http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c51/Jasini/The%20Sims/
Note: I have never had a direct link to that particular photo here in the BBS or my blog, though I have mentioned that it exists when discussion of that particular glitch comes up. Nor do I see how it is any worse than the Venus statue that comes with the game that you can see on the lower floor in the corner there.
It's so odd to be referred to as a pervert, when prude is the word much more often used to describe me. It's even odder to be called MR and Sir.
Update, June 6, 2007
Further correspondence as of June 1, 2007
madamex5051ply:
Thanks but a Glitch can be remove and a naked doll is different from a naked Photo Yes I have seen this glitch in the game but I dont keep on my site I delete it what purpose does it serve to keep it their
Me:
So somehow a picture (not a photo) of a naked doll is worse than a doll itself? Somehow I don't follow your logic. It would be different if it actually were a photo of a person, or even a picture of an anatomically
correct Sim.
And have you noticed, there is a Venus statue in the base game. It shows just as much, if not more, than the picture does.
And once again, there are proper channels to go through if you are concerned about something. Contacting me privately, flagging messages, contacting a SimMaster or Maxoid. Jumping out at me screaming "Pervert!" is not effective, and at most draws attention to the very thing you have a problem with.
As to what purpose it serves, what purpose does the game itself serve? It's a *glitch*, it's *funny*.
******
I still have no idea if she's contacted a SimMaster or not. I do know that none have contacted me. By now it's buried somewhere on the back side of the BBS. So, unless something further comes up, I'll consider the matter closed.
http://bbs.thesims2.ea.com/community/bbs/messages.php?&threadID=81f6b85943f503a946dc02095917b004&directoryID=2
Post by madamex5051ply:
Hello MR Estra why on earth do you ask simmers to view your picture album knowing their are NUDE sims floating around you are so darn nasty what if my little sis seen that crap this is rated T for Teens Sir not rated xxxx
My reply:
What on earth? Taking a picture of a known glitch changes my gender?
If you happen to be able to see a Sim on a floor above your selected Sim, there is no censor patch. I'm surprised you haven't seen this already in your game. It doesn't happen too often, but it does happen.
And I'm sure your little sister has seen naked Barbie dolls before. There is little difference, since the Sims have no secondary distinguishing marks.
And you could have expressed your concerns by signing my guestbook, contacting a SimMaster, or both, rather than drawing attention to it. I don't see anything wrong with the picture, but I will abide by a SimMaster's ruling on it, and remove it if one asks me to.
*****
The picture in question is located in my photobucket account here:
http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c51/Jasini/The%20Sims/
Note: I have never had a direct link to that particular photo here in the BBS or my blog, though I have mentioned that it exists when discussion of that particular glitch comes up. Nor do I see how it is any worse than the Venus statue that comes with the game that you can see on the lower floor in the corner there.
It's so odd to be referred to as a pervert, when prude is the word much more often used to describe me. It's even odder to be called MR and Sir.
Update, June 6, 2007
Further correspondence as of June 1, 2007
madamex5051ply:
Thanks but a Glitch can be remove and a naked doll is different from a naked Photo Yes I have seen this glitch in the game but I dont keep on my site I delete it what purpose does it serve to keep it their
Me:
So somehow a picture (not a photo) of a naked doll is worse than a doll itself? Somehow I don't follow your logic. It would be different if it actually were a photo of a person, or even a picture of an anatomically
correct Sim.
And have you noticed, there is a Venus statue in the base game. It shows just as much, if not more, than the picture does.
And once again, there are proper channels to go through if you are concerned about something. Contacting me privately, flagging messages, contacting a SimMaster or Maxoid. Jumping out at me screaming "Pervert!" is not effective, and at most draws attention to the very thing you have a problem with.
As to what purpose it serves, what purpose does the game itself serve? It's a *glitch*, it's *funny*.
******
I still have no idea if she's contacted a SimMaster or not. I do know that none have contacted me. By now it's buried somewhere on the back side of the BBS. So, unless something further comes up, I'll consider the matter closed.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Ramblings
I've had a pretty good week this week. I finally decided it was time to do something about all the housework that's been piling up lately. I've been working most of the day on it while the kids are at school, taking a bit of time for relaxing, so I won't burn out too quickly, and also taking time to exercise and go to Curves, which I'd been neglecting lately. I've gotten quite a bit of the main part of the house cleaned now, and am working on things that I've been putting off for a long time, like re-organizing the bookcases, etc. The laundry's mostly caught up now, just need to put things away.
I've been setting my timer for 15 minutes, doing as much as I can of a room, and then moving on to the next room. After three of these, then I get 15 minutes to sit down and relax. The 15 minute thing is something I picked up from Flylady. Though she wouldn't approve of me trying to do so much at once, since the crash and burn potential is quite high. I probably will, but I haven't yet, and if I can keep one thing going from this, I'll come out ahead.
Tonight'll be the last night the kids have Awana. Next week will be the practice for the award ceremony, then the award ceremony, then they'll be off for the summer. I do wish the church kept it a bit closer to the school year, though probably having so much happening at the end of the school year would be stressful to some folks.
I've been setting my timer for 15 minutes, doing as much as I can of a room, and then moving on to the next room. After three of these, then I get 15 minutes to sit down and relax. The 15 minute thing is something I picked up from Flylady. Though she wouldn't approve of me trying to do so much at once, since the crash and burn potential is quite high. I probably will, but I haven't yet, and if I can keep one thing going from this, I'll come out ahead.
Tonight'll be the last night the kids have Awana. Next week will be the practice for the award ceremony, then the award ceremony, then they'll be off for the summer. I do wish the church kept it a bit closer to the school year, though probably having so much happening at the end of the school year would be stressful to some folks.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Slipping
The snow and pack ice was all cleared off the front porch, but when I stepped on the porch the other morning, I nearly fell from the glaze ice. It looked like it was caused by the drip from the roof.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Birthday tho'ts
I remember, being a kid, and getting toys and books for birthday presents. Nowadays I get mostly clothes. Can I go back to being a kid again?
Though I did have some other good things happen, like getting to go out twice for lunch with my husband, and out once with my folks. I also bought myself a cheesecake from Sam's Club as a birthday cake.
Though I did have some other good things happen, like getting to go out twice for lunch with my husband, and out once with my folks. I also bought myself a cheesecake from Sam's Club as a birthday cake.
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Thanksgiving
We had Thanksgiving (note the name of the holiday is neither T-day nor Turkey Day. It is Thanksgiving, with a capital T, and a grateful reminder of the One to whom we offer thanks.) up at my sister's house this year. Last year we had it at our house, and all of Elfriend's family came in from out-of-town. They couldn't make it this year, so it was just my side of the family. I provided the turkey (frozen, on Monday), and brought the stuffing and candied sweet potatoes. Elfriend made rolls, like he frequently does, and pumpkin pie, made from real pumpkin. My sister made green bean casserole, and a couple other things I've forgotten. Mom cooked the turkey, and made a couple of different kinds of bread, and probably some other stuff.
I went grocery shopping that Wednesday, since it didn't look like I was going to be able to go out on Friday, like I usually do, so I wasn't around to make the crusts for Elfriend's pies. I don't know what it is, but he has considerable trouble making pie crusts, they always come out, thick, dry, and hard to roll. I can't make the edges pretty, like they look on magazines and such, but the crusts themselves come out fine. I don't know what the problem with Elfriend's pie crusts are, a different recipe, over-working the dough, not adding enough water, or what.
We went over noonish, ate, the kids at ore table, and us at another. Gidget had made a really nice Thanksgiving banner at school (with Thanksgiving spelled out in buttons, feathers, noodles, glitter, and a whole other bunch of stuff), and they hung that over the front window.
Then we did the usual clean-up, and the kids went out to play, and we sat around talking.
It was a good day.
I went grocery shopping that Wednesday, since it didn't look like I was going to be able to go out on Friday, like I usually do, so I wasn't around to make the crusts for Elfriend's pies. I don't know what it is, but he has considerable trouble making pie crusts, they always come out, thick, dry, and hard to roll. I can't make the edges pretty, like they look on magazines and such, but the crusts themselves come out fine. I don't know what the problem with Elfriend's pie crusts are, a different recipe, over-working the dough, not adding enough water, or what.
We went over noonish, ate, the kids at ore table, and us at another. Gidget had made a really nice Thanksgiving banner at school (with Thanksgiving spelled out in buttons, feathers, noodles, glitter, and a whole other bunch of stuff), and they hung that over the front window.
Then we did the usual clean-up, and the kids went out to play, and we sat around talking.
It was a good day.
Friday, December 15, 2006
Remembering the Snow-storm
We had our first real winter storm of the year a couple of weeks ago. Ice, snow, and more ice.
I hate ice-storms. They are pretty to look at, with all the branches of the trees coated in glass-like crystal, but they are a pain.
We had one, a few years back, while we were still living in our old house, that was really bad. We were without power for several days, and other folks for even longer. Utility crews came from all over the country to help put the power back on-line. As soon as the roads cleared, we went up to my sister's house, until the power came back on. And we lost a lot of good old trees in that storm, including one large one in the neighbor's yard. I looked up from hearing a lot of crackling and popping all around, just in time to see most of the tree down the hill come toppling down. I know both World's of Fun and Oceans of Fun lost several good trees at that time, which oddly enough, they haven't gotten around to replacing. In Worlds of Fun, we could tell the ones that were missing by the flowerbeds they have around the base of the trees. There'd be a row of four of these flowerbeds, three would have a good sized tree growing in it, and the fourth one would just have the flowers. In Oceans of Fun, there used to be a large tree, that shaded the kiddie pool nicely in the afternoons. That one is gone. I have no idea why they never replaced it. Not that it matters much anymore for us. We've pretty much outgrown the need for kiddie pools now. Gidget's gotten too tall for them (she technically was right at the limit, maybe a bit over last year) and Dash has gotten to the point where he's starting to enjoy the other slides more. I still think we ought to see if we can get both kids swimming lessons, though.
Well, anyway, back to this past storm. It was raining/slushing/icing about the time I usually walk down to the bus stop to get the kids, but I didn't really want to have to go walk and stand in that gunk, especially if the bus was running late, so I took the car. While I was in the car waiting for the bus and watching the ice hit the windshield, I began to wonder if taking the car really had been such a good idea. What if it proved impossible to get the car back up the hill again? That would really be a mess. But it turned out that I was worried about nothing, we had no more trouble driving back up the hill than I would have had it just been raining. That was a relief.
Elfriend surprised me by walking in at 4:30. They had told everyone to go ahead and go home if they wanted, and avoid as much of the weather as they could.
They didn't call off school the next day until almost 6 a.m. I think that they were waiting until the very last possible minute to make up their minds. I'm glad they called off school, I'd have hated to have to walk the kids down the hill on that icy road, and I could see that it would have been almost impossible to drive. Later that morning, I saw a car sitting sideways in the road for a few hours, which made me even gladder that I didn't have to get anywhere. We just stayed inside that day, though the kids did go out later that afternoon to play in the snow, what there was of it. The mail didn't even come that day.
By evening, they were still predicting about 10 inches of snow by morning. The school was called off at 6:00 that night for the next day, Friday. But we didn't get the 10 inches that night, in fact, we got about enough snow to say, "Look! We got snow!" and that's it. I don't know what happened to all the snow we should have gotten, if it went south of us, or skipped us and went to St. Louis, or what.
We waited until the sun was up and shining on the roads, then I took the kids grocery shopping. Some roads were better than others, but I had only a little trouble at one stop sign.
Elfriend was wondering if the school system knew something we didn't, when they called off school so early for Friday, but I figured it was for at least some of the following reasons:
1. It was early December, and they still had plenty of snow days left.
2. It was Friday, and they had already had Thursday off, might as well make a weekend of it.
3. There was always the chance the storm could go through.
I just have this feeling that if it had been February, say, and they were running out of snow days, they would have waited to see what really happened to the weather before calling things off.
But things are all back to normal, now. Though it took quite a bit longer for the snow to disappear than I thought it would. Snow usually disappears within three days, here, this time it lasted almost a week.
Gidget was most upset about having to go back to school on Monday. She kept telling me, "But there's snow on the ground. That means there's no school."
Then, when I tried to tell her that the issue wasn't snow on the ground, it was ice and dangerous conditions on the roads, she kept finding minuscule pieces of ice on the road, and maybe a patch or two that was about two foot square, and saying, "See! there's ice on the road. That means we don't have to go to school."
I finally just told her to take it up with her teacher, there was nothing I could do about it.
I hate ice-storms. They are pretty to look at, with all the branches of the trees coated in glass-like crystal, but they are a pain.
We had one, a few years back, while we were still living in our old house, that was really bad. We were without power for several days, and other folks for even longer. Utility crews came from all over the country to help put the power back on-line. As soon as the roads cleared, we went up to my sister's house, until the power came back on. And we lost a lot of good old trees in that storm, including one large one in the neighbor's yard. I looked up from hearing a lot of crackling and popping all around, just in time to see most of the tree down the hill come toppling down. I know both World's of Fun and Oceans of Fun lost several good trees at that time, which oddly enough, they haven't gotten around to replacing. In Worlds of Fun, we could tell the ones that were missing by the flowerbeds they have around the base of the trees. There'd be a row of four of these flowerbeds, three would have a good sized tree growing in it, and the fourth one would just have the flowers. In Oceans of Fun, there used to be a large tree, that shaded the kiddie pool nicely in the afternoons. That one is gone. I have no idea why they never replaced it. Not that it matters much anymore for us. We've pretty much outgrown the need for kiddie pools now. Gidget's gotten too tall for them (she technically was right at the limit, maybe a bit over last year) and Dash has gotten to the point where he's starting to enjoy the other slides more. I still think we ought to see if we can get both kids swimming lessons, though.
Well, anyway, back to this past storm. It was raining/slushing/icing about the time I usually walk down to the bus stop to get the kids, but I didn't really want to have to go walk and stand in that gunk, especially if the bus was running late, so I took the car. While I was in the car waiting for the bus and watching the ice hit the windshield, I began to wonder if taking the car really had been such a good idea. What if it proved impossible to get the car back up the hill again? That would really be a mess. But it turned out that I was worried about nothing, we had no more trouble driving back up the hill than I would have had it just been raining. That was a relief.
Elfriend surprised me by walking in at 4:30. They had told everyone to go ahead and go home if they wanted, and avoid as much of the weather as they could.
They didn't call off school the next day until almost 6 a.m. I think that they were waiting until the very last possible minute to make up their minds. I'm glad they called off school, I'd have hated to have to walk the kids down the hill on that icy road, and I could see that it would have been almost impossible to drive. Later that morning, I saw a car sitting sideways in the road for a few hours, which made me even gladder that I didn't have to get anywhere. We just stayed inside that day, though the kids did go out later that afternoon to play in the snow, what there was of it. The mail didn't even come that day.
By evening, they were still predicting about 10 inches of snow by morning. The school was called off at 6:00 that night for the next day, Friday. But we didn't get the 10 inches that night, in fact, we got about enough snow to say, "Look! We got snow!" and that's it. I don't know what happened to all the snow we should have gotten, if it went south of us, or skipped us and went to St. Louis, or what.
We waited until the sun was up and shining on the roads, then I took the kids grocery shopping. Some roads were better than others, but I had only a little trouble at one stop sign.
Elfriend was wondering if the school system knew something we didn't, when they called off school so early for Friday, but I figured it was for at least some of the following reasons:
1. It was early December, and they still had plenty of snow days left.
2. It was Friday, and they had already had Thursday off, might as well make a weekend of it.
3. There was always the chance the storm could go through.
I just have this feeling that if it had been February, say, and they were running out of snow days, they would have waited to see what really happened to the weather before calling things off.
But things are all back to normal, now. Though it took quite a bit longer for the snow to disappear than I thought it would. Snow usually disappears within three days, here, this time it lasted almost a week.
Gidget was most upset about having to go back to school on Monday. She kept telling me, "But there's snow on the ground. That means there's no school."
Then, when I tried to tell her that the issue wasn't snow on the ground, it was ice and dangerous conditions on the roads, she kept finding minuscule pieces of ice on the road, and maybe a patch or two that was about two foot square, and saying, "See! there's ice on the road. That means we don't have to go to school."
I finally just told her to take it up with her teacher, there was nothing I could do about it.
Monday, October 09, 2006
Friday, October 06, 2006
Starlight Theater - Part 2
(Note: I've decided to stop calling folks by their initials, and am going to use nicknames for them. I don't know why, but it somehow seems less cumbersome to call my husband Elfriend rather than J, my daughter Gidget rather than C, and my son Dash rather than N. :-) )
The third show of the season this year was Grease. We'd seen it a few years ago, the last time it came to Starlight. We remembered liking the music and dancing, costumes, things like that. What we didn't like was the moral of the story.
Since we still couldn't get anyone to go with is, we had serious discussions on whether or not we should bring the kids. Finally we decided that most of the stuff that we didn't like would just fly over the kids' heads. If Dash had been the same age as Gidget, we probably wouldn't have done so. Of course, there's always the danger that Gidget would absorb more than one would think from appearances. She's done that sort of thing before. You think she hasn't been paying attention to something, then some time later you realize that she's internalized all of it.
During our dinner, I almost ran into Bob Rohlf on our trip to the buffet. Fortunately, I was able to stop myself on time. I said "Hi," he said "hi," and that was it. It took me a moment to realize who he was, since for some reason folks look different when they're two feet away from you than when they are close to a football field's width away from you, up on stage. By the time I realized why he looked familiar, it was too late too say anything to him. Though what I would have said, I don't know . . . "You're Bob Rohlf." "I know."
The language in Grease was worse than I remembered. Probably selective memory at work. And, of course, the staging was different, and things like that. I don't remember if the last time the show was there was before or after they put in the new stage. They did that a few years, making the stage smaller, but more versatile, closer to the Broadway standard. That way, they have a greater selection of shows to choose from. The stage is also enclosed now, so it can be air-conditioned, which I'm sure the actors appreciate on these warm Kansas City nights. The first rows of the audience appreciates that, too. If the last time the show was there was before the stage changed, that would probably explain quite a few of the staging changes.
We were right about most of the plot going right over the kids' heads. Later we asked Dash what the story was about, and he told us, "It's about a car."
We all enjoyed the evening. More on the last two shows, Rent and Hairspray later.
The third show of the season this year was Grease. We'd seen it a few years ago, the last time it came to Starlight. We remembered liking the music and dancing, costumes, things like that. What we didn't like was the moral of the story.
Since we still couldn't get anyone to go with is, we had serious discussions on whether or not we should bring the kids. Finally we decided that most of the stuff that we didn't like would just fly over the kids' heads. If Dash had been the same age as Gidget, we probably wouldn't have done so. Of course, there's always the danger that Gidget would absorb more than one would think from appearances. She's done that sort of thing before. You think she hasn't been paying attention to something, then some time later you realize that she's internalized all of it.
During our dinner, I almost ran into Bob Rohlf on our trip to the buffet. Fortunately, I was able to stop myself on time. I said "Hi," he said "hi," and that was it. It took me a moment to realize who he was, since for some reason folks look different when they're two feet away from you than when they are close to a football field's width away from you, up on stage. By the time I realized why he looked familiar, it was too late too say anything to him. Though what I would have said, I don't know . . . "You're Bob Rohlf." "I know."
The language in Grease was worse than I remembered. Probably selective memory at work. And, of course, the staging was different, and things like that. I don't remember if the last time the show was there was before or after they put in the new stage. They did that a few years, making the stage smaller, but more versatile, closer to the Broadway standard. That way, they have a greater selection of shows to choose from. The stage is also enclosed now, so it can be air-conditioned, which I'm sure the actors appreciate on these warm Kansas City nights. The first rows of the audience appreciates that, too. If the last time the show was there was before the stage changed, that would probably explain quite a few of the staging changes.
We were right about most of the plot going right over the kids' heads. Later we asked Dash what the story was about, and he told us, "It's about a car."
We all enjoyed the evening. More on the last two shows, Rent and Hairspray later.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Test
This is a test of the Picassa/Blogger posting system. If this had been an actual post, the picture would be much more interesting.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Political Test
| Neo-Conservative You scored 33% Personal Liberty and 54% Economic Liberty! |
| A neo-conservative believes in moderate to high government intervention on personal matters and moderate government intervention on economic matters. Unlike most other conservatives, they may tend to support a social safety net, though to a lesser extent then most leftists. Others are more capitalistically inclined. They tend to support war, police powers, foreign intervention and laws restricting personal liberty. Neo-conservatives tend to emphasize foreign policy. Neo-conservatism is the result of "fusion" between "old left" and "new right" tendencies. |
 |
My test tracked 2 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:
|
| Link: The Politics Test written by brainpolice on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test |
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Anyone doing NaNoWriMo?
That is: National Novel Writing Month.
In a moment of insanity, I've signed up for it. I even filled out my profile. I'm hoping that I'll at least make a decent dent in one of the novels that's been floating around my head for years. Then, maybe, I'd have room in there to keep something useful. Like where I put my keys. :-)
I've got some ponderings about the story I'm planning to work on here, since we're not allowed to actually start writing on it until November.
In a moment of insanity, I've signed up for it. I even filled out my profile. I'm hoping that I'll at least make a decent dent in one of the novels that's been floating around my head for years. Then, maybe, I'd have room in there to keep something useful. Like where I put my keys. :-)
I've got some ponderings about the story I'm planning to work on here, since we're not allowed to actually start writing on it until November.
Friday, September 22, 2006
NBC edits VeggieTales for God Content, then denies it
I've got a bunch I've got to blog about once my husband's vacation is over, but I thought I'd post this quickly:
See Phil Vischer's Blog, http://www.philvischer.com/ especially the entry "This is getting interesting." Previous entries will give more context.
Basically, Phil's given them episodes that were perfectly timed for TV, and they kept sending them back, telling him to cut out more of the God lines (originally they were just telling him to cut the countertop scenes). Now NBC is denying that they are editing VeggieTales for religious contents, just saying that they are editing for time.
NBC is free, of course, to decide what they want to air, but if they are editing for religious content, they should at least have the courage of their convictions, and say so.
See Phil Vischer's Blog, http://www.philvischer.com/ especially the entry "This is getting interesting." Previous entries will give more context.
Basically, Phil's given them episodes that were perfectly timed for TV, and they kept sending them back, telling him to cut out more of the God lines (originally they were just telling him to cut the countertop scenes). Now NBC is denying that they are editing VeggieTales for religious contents, just saying that they are editing for time.
NBC is free, of course, to decide what they want to air, but if they are editing for religious content, they should at least have the courage of their convictions, and say so.
Friday, September 15, 2006
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