Miscellaneous Missives

Today was Beatles' Sunday at church. The service was based on peace and multiple Beatles' songs. Honestly, if I would have remembered, I may have stayed home. As I was listening to people sing, I reflected on my week of unplanned incidents. * text from Southwest canceling flight * frequent calls to Southwest ( Trains... ) * delayed flight * snowed in car ( shuttles ) * two nights of conferences * movies for Friday's class needed reformatted on Friday * lost/stolen purse * infection causing trip to Minute Clinic without insurance card ...and they say things come in three. "The misery here is quite terrible; and, yet, late at night when the day has slunk away into the depths behind me, I often walk with a spring in my step along the barbed wire. And then time and again, a feeling soars straight from my heart..." ~Etty Hillesum, An Interrupted Life Although I feel as though I've had my share of torment this week, I can't help but remember all of these e...

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com. Although I have all of the pictures I took in an album on Facebook and posted a view earlier, I used Animoto to make a short video. I should have shot a video with my iPhone while at the rally, but my fingers were cold to quite cold merely taking pictures.

Last night I was debating-- Rally to Save America or grade essays. Since I found someone to go with, I chose rally. I was proud to be there and excited to be around people with like beliefs... except for the one Walker follower who put is sign down for the first part of the rally. Later he had it raised high as pro-union people had their signs around his including one saying something to the effect that Hitler destroyed the unions too. My favorite sign of the day is the title of today's post. People are always creative when it comes to signage. A dog sported a sign stating that Walker was on a shorter leash than the dog. My favorite people (other than those I was with) were the two dressed up in red chicken type outfits with signs saying, "Wake up America." Another favorite, Keith Ellison, spoke. Each time I hear him, I am proud to have voted for him. I even had the opportunity to shake his hand and thank him for representing Minnesota. Today's rally might ...

I want to join the protest at the capitol tomorrow, but I can't seem to find anyone who is going. My hopes is that this is limited to the people with whom I have talked this evening and not the majority of people. This afternoon as I was talking to Dad and Carol, I became a little agitated thinking about what is happening in Wisconsin and what is happening to public employees. Most know that I am not a huge union person, but when something this absurd happens, it makes me ready to protest. It's been a long week from my trying to get home on Monday/Tuesday to two evenings of conferences. I also have five paragraph essays and corresponding outlines to correct from all of my students (yes, the boring five paragraph essay...). Since I am not in the mind to start the correcting marathon, I am spending the evening watching MSNBC (liberal media) and feeling that I should venture to the capitol tomorrow even if it is a trip made individually. I am being torn between the capitol ...

Last night (this morning) I actually arrived in Minneapolis a little after Midnight. Lucky for me I was able to sit next to a gentleman (I use this term loosely) who was able to spend his four plus hours in the airport imbibing in liquid refreshment and was able to partake again on our short flight. As we sat on the tarmac for over a half hour he was able to 1) explain to me in detail that they couldn't keep us on the plane for over an hour 2) repeat the same information to those around him 3) call Southwest on his phone to repeat the same information using the F word multiple times. Actually a flight attendant on the way out accurately guessed the caller. Anyway, by the time I arrived at the shuttle door it was closer to one. Since the shuttle were busy not only doing their shuttle runs but digging cars out, it was closer to two thirty before I saw my car. As the shuttle driver dug out behind my car, I waded through the drift around my car trying to get the snow off (without...

Last night I found out my early morning flight was canceled. At that point I started calling Southwest to get a new flight. After three calls Wednesday am was the earliest they could give me with no hopes of stand by, etc. In the middle of the night I started looking at rental car places and the weather between St. Louis and Minneapolis. Early morning I went to pick up my rental car, knowing it would be an exorbitant fare, to make the nine hour (in good weather) trip back home. When I arrived at the rental car, the attendant was about to hand me the keys when there was a problem with the paper work. Actually the problem was more with my expired license. Obviously they won't rent to someone without a valid driver's license. Another call to Southwest was made without any success. Next I tried Amtrak. The train had already left for today, but there were seats on Tuesday's train leaving at 6:00 in the morning and arriving at 10:30 at night. When I asked if there was i...

Today I picked up "gumballs" while helping my friend, S, do yard work. These spiked menaces are known as gumballs, and come from the American Sweetgum tree. We spent the afternoon in short sleeved tees picking up gumballs from the gumball machine that never quit. After raking a section, I would turn around and see more on the ground from the beautiful tree. S looked fabulous after our day at, work, so I took her picture. Although it seems as though I'm complaining, it was 70º (or warmer) and sunny most of the afternoon. This while Minneapolis is being hit by 10 to 15 inches of snow... not a bad trade off! I will admit tree is beautiful even though I threatened to cut it down on more than one occasion. Did I mention it was 70º when we quit at five?

It seems President's Day weekend is the time for everyone to take leave of Minneapolis. Since I was flying early in the morning and flying out of the little terminal, I thought it would be a smooth experience. The good news is that I still allowed plenty of time. I pulled into Park 'n Go a little after six. The lot was full which was a new experience to me. Then I ventured over to Park 'n Fly. Yea me, I was able to secure the last spot in the lot. Booooo! The cars next to me parked like idiots, and my car will be dinged when I return. Although the parking wasn't smooth, I still had left plenty of time especially considering I was flying out of the little terminal. Did I mention I had never flown out of the little terminal? It seems the little terminal is busy to quite busy with spring break fliers. No worries! I still had the sixty minutes needed to fly although I had to ask how to get to security. Although the security line was long, it moved quickly unti...

This is my favorite Super Bowl commercial. It should remind people where we, Americans, started. It should remind people about the hard working, middle class. The hard working, middle class that the Republicans are trying to destroy (along with PBS and NPR).

I've been sitting at my computer for fifteen minutes trying to figure out what to say about the Republicans current attempts to break the union. It seems as though they will not be happy until the middle class has vanished. Today as I heard about the teachers who called in sick in Madison, Wisconsin, I cheered. More importantly I cheered for the fire fighters and police unions who joined the teachers and thousands of other protesters. These two unions actually supported the Republicans during the last election. Today they realize the importance of joining other unions affected by the latest legislation the governor of Wisconsin is trying to pass. Again, I don't really have the words to express my disgust with those who seem to think government/public workers are not important. Of course, I am prejudiced because I think teachers are needed in this country and should be respected. As I watch the crazies talk about the absurd benefits of the public workers, I wonder where ...

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. ~Dalai Lama Last Thursday I gave blood. It was the first time in twenty (maybe more) years that I have given blood and had a horrible experience. It's not the first time giving blood has been difficult. I've had problems with my iron. I've had times when it took two people to find my veins. I've even had my blood come out slowly, so it couldn't be used. Thursday was the first time I experienced true pain and experienced a nurse literally "digging around" in my arm. Friday it was still rather sore, so I talked to the school nurse about working out that evening. She advised that I take it easy, so, of course, I did. This morning she saw me again and asked about my arm. We conversed, and I admitted that working out last night was difficult due to the tender arm and my pounding heart. As we were talking, I told her that although many say no strenuous ...

I am not really a union fan although I am a member. Tonight I went to a meeting. With current legislation, I thought it would be important. After talking to some colleagues, I decided that the union is important; maybe only because of mere numbers. However, the meeting reinforced those things that aggravate me about a union. Before I go into tirade, let me digress. Of course I find importance in one of the few political groups that attests to looking out for our children. If the teacher's union worked as it should, students would be put first followed by the teachers. A union should stand up for the legitimate rights of its workers. When I get frustrated with the union, it is because my values are different than others in the union. This afternoon people argued about having to fill out a form to get a personal day. In any other job, one would probably have to tell their boss why they wanted to take a day. The other concession some were seeking was more personal days. Le...

It's 44º outside, so I decided to remove the snow off my upper deck. I wanted to alleviate any problems if it continues to melt. Upon arriving at the upper deck, it took a long time to get the door open due to the vast quantity of snow in front. I shoveled for five to ten minutes and then quit. It's not only that I'd need to shovel the entire deck, I'd also need to figure out what to do with it once it hit the parking lot. Instead of continuing to shovel, I decided to search for the number of the gentleman that shoveled it off last year.

One of my favorite candy bars is the Twin Bing. It is made and sold in Iowa, but I rarely see a Twin Bing in Minnesota. This weekend I bought a couple for my dad's significant other since she had never heard of them. Since I typically take care of my "to do" list on Sundays and needed to mail the candy bars, I decided to see if the "Automated Postal Center" was open on Sunday (excuse the picture... I should have leveled my camera). Yea! Without any lines, I was able to get postage with the quick sweep of my credit card and mail the package on Sunday. The automated postal center, the Twin Bing and of course my iPhone (used to take the picture) are a few of my favorite things this Sunday. Oh, and the SUN and warmer temps which have made a needed appearance should be added to the list of my favorite things (at least favorites for today).

"If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together... there is something you must always remember. you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we're apart... I'll always be with you." ~ A.A. Milne (Christopher Robin to Winnie the Pooh) I have delightful friends, friends I see almost every day and friends I see once in awhile. Today I am paying attention to the friends I see infrequently. Last evening I played "phone tag" with a friend that lives in Phoenix. Even though we rarely see each other, she is one of the few people that actually reads my blog every day. This morning I finally talked to her. I sometimes forget, she actually knows what's going on in my life before I tell her. This morning another friend cut and colored my hair. We have been friends since high school. Earlier in the week I read a Tweet that stated, "Haircut. I never know what to say t...

Who knew I could spend most of my waking hours playing with my iPhone? I loved my iTouch, so I knew I would love my iPhone. It is incredible having my phone, iTouch, and camera in one electronic that fits in my purse. Although I love my phone, I am experiencing problems. First it is almost impossible to text and drive. To alleviate this problem, I practiced on my way to Okoboji this evening. It's still not easy, but I am a bit better (not recommended). The other problem is I tend to do things that not only suck up my time (Scrabble, SoundHound, e-mailing photos), but also suck up the battery on my phone. Does anyone have suggestions (besides putting the phone down)? Tonight I took pictures of the Clivia at my father's house and e-mailed it to myself for my blog (yea!). I also am going to entertain you with a list of my favorite apps (no particular order). What are your favorite apps? TweetDeck, Scrabble, SoundHound, Pandora, Weather Channel, Facebook, AroundMe, Hipstam...

Yesterday sucked, but today went well to quite well. Basically the things that caused me frustration yesterday did a 180 today. What? 1) My iPhone came. I have been able to load everything (apps, music, contacts, etc.). I even sent (from my phone) the lovely picture (taken on my phone) of my bathroom ceiling which will be fixed soon once the leak is fixed (see #2). 2) The contractor (lack of better term) came today. It seems the water is coming in from my neighbor's shower, so it is not the exhaust fan. This should mean that his (my neighbor's) insurance (or his personal account) will cover the damages. 3) Research went more smoothly in my classes today. Life is good.

Today sucked. I try not to be whiny, but sometimes I get overwhelmed. It seemed as though everything came together today. First I woke up to more water on the floor from the exhaust fan in the bathroom ( ongoing problem ). Yesterday I e-mailed the condo management manager. My response today was less than helpful. He told me I should run the fan for 45 minutes after each shower as if this would solve the problem. This initiated a phone calls and conversations with lovely friends and my dad, so at least I have an idea what to do next. Running the ceiling fan is not part of the solution. It will require getting my ceiling fixed and checking for the source of the water while it's open. School today was miserable and not merely because I had a staff meeting at the end of the day. The students have no desire to follow directions or think for themselves causing me to be frustrated (as well as the three or four in each class who have been thinking and following directions for the...

“Internet is so big, so powerful and pointless that for some people it is a complete substitute for life.” ~Andrew Brown Most days I come home and spend time checking TweetDeck , my e-mail, Facebook, etc. Today I perused a Prezi, put together by one of KC's students, posted on Twitter. The presentation ended with the student saying her Millennial score was 87%. Of course I was intrigued, and Googled, "How Millennial Am I", to find the quiz. Voila ! My quiz results (84%) confirmed what I already knew. I spend too much time with media (although I'm not really sure how the tattoo or religion fits into the quiz). Take the quiz and let me know your score.

Did you know that I want an iPhone? Have I mentioned it before? I am in love with my iPod Touch and excited to quite excited that Verizon has the iPhone. This is where the insanity begins. The image at the top of this post says it all. Yes, I bought into the hype and set my alarm for 2:00am. No, I am not kidding you. Anyway, it seems as though twenty minutes after I started this madness my phone is ordered. Although the Verizon people told me I didn't need to change my plan until I received my phone, I needed to go online and change my plan. As of 2:21 I don't even know if I will receive a phone, but my order is placed, and I am returning to bed. Goodnight all!

Tonight I had the pleasure of attending two book clubs. Both book groups read beautiful books and the conversation was delightful. One of these books was Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings . Rereading this book was a pleasure as was tonight's conversation. Angelou's writing is poetic and powerful. Our meeting began with "On the Pulse of a Morning". This was the poem Angelou wrote and recited at Bill Clinton's inaugural address. Take the time and listen. What can we take away from this poem today with recent events besides the mere beauty of this poem? This is a stanza that "rings true" to me: "You, created only a little lower than The angels, have crouched too long in The bruising darkness, Have lain too long Face down in ignorance. " Maybe it's the current events. Maybe it's the frightful cold. Maybe it's the gloom of February. I'm not sure. Although the poem is basically uplifting, this is the stanz...

I have a love/hate relationship with snow. Yesterday driving home from school, I found the snow tedious. As I was driving home from the gym, I found the snow amazing. White snow covering all the dirt and grime is beautiful. Today part of our team field trip was snow shoeing. The new snow not only made everything white, but we were the first to leave our mark on the six inches of snow. It was fun and exciting even though many were cold to quite cold which brings me to the other downside of snow. Snow doesn't come without frigid temperatures. Tonight the wind is blowing the snow everywhere. Watching it from inside is fun, but I'm too much of a baby to walk out in it to get my mail. Although I love (some of the time) the snow, I still hope that Punxsutawney Phil doesn't see his shadow tomorrow. Even though it's beautiful and fun (at times), I've had enough of winter.