I have often said that if a psychiatrist ever got hold of my Ipod and looked at the eclectic nature of the music that I listen to, he would render me seriously schizophrenic. The 20GB or so runs the gamut from Gregorian chant to Bowling for Soup, the lute music of J. S. Bach to Pete Seger, the soundtracks to 20 or so Broadway musicals to Emerson, Lake and Palmer’s rendition of Moussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, Willie Nelson to…
I hate it when I fit into a mold – especially a marketing mold. But, that is where I find myself right now. I am the soccer mom to whom Nintendo is marketing its newest piece of the gaming world, Wii Fit. It is no secret that I am a video game addict. Don’t get me wrong, this is not bad or anything. It has saved my sanity and my GPA for many years. As an undergraduate in North Carolina,…
As the end of every semester approaches, I always have great plans for what I will do with “all my free time” when I no longer have to go to school, grade papers, prepare class discussions, etc. These plans usually include cleaning house, reading the stack of “To Be Read” books, gardening, sleeping, watching the stack of “To Be Watched” movies, and doing the New York Times crossword puzzle every day – even Friday. I am three weeks in to…
“The Americans with Disabilities Act gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, State and local government services, and telecommunications.” The above is a brief statement about what The Americans with Disabilities Act is intended to do. On the surface, it is a noble plan. In reality, does it…
School is almost over for Erin and she has been working on ways to occupy her summer days. She will go on two mission trips with the youth group from church – one to Abbyville, LA, a community still dealing with devastation from hurricane Katrina and then to Mexico on an environmental trip (at least that is their story and they’re stickin’ to it!). Lat Saturday evening the youth group sponsored an auction to help raise money for these trips….
I have a wretched cold and way too much work to do but I did manage to find a few minutes to play with my new camera. I am a little more comfortable with it today than I was last night, but I still have much to learn. I am supposed to shoot a run of To Kill A Mockingbird on Wednesday night. Between now and then I need to decide if I am confident enough to shoot with my…
Life tends to place a great deal of emphasis on “firsts”. Though I don’t really remember it, I’m sure my first Mother’s Day was a monumental occasions. When I was pregnant with Erin, Mother’s Day began a nine month period of tossing my cookies. And over the years, each of the girls as made me gifts at school, many of which still occupy places of prominence in my office. But this Mother’s Day may be the best yet. I think…
Well, I have made it through another semester. As of 11:17 yesterday, I am a free woman – until I start getting all those complaints from students who are not happy with their grades. “Why did YOU GIVE ME a C?”“It was a gift. I could have given you the F you deserve.”“I was not failing your class.”“No, not until you turned it the paper of which 80% was copied and pasted from Wikipedia.”“But I worked hard on that paper….
About ten days ago, Erin and I went shopping for a dress for her to wear for Confirmation, which took place last Sunday. Dress shopping is not a happy experience for any of the girls in our family. It is unpleasant for both Brooke and me because we don’t wear dresses and because any occasion that requires a dress is usually not one that we will enjoy. Erin, on the other hand, doesn’t mind wearing the dresses, it is just…
“I don’t have to sting anyone, do I? “Life is fun among the flowers!” “Do these antennas make my cheeks look big?” “Snug as a bug.” “Mom loves me. She loves me not. She loves me.” “Watch my face, not my stinger.” “Of course I’m precious.” “Okay, Mom really doesn’t like killer bees.” “Still life.” “You may remember me. I stepped out to make a phone call. Yep. Mom wants the picture.”