Miscellaneous Missives

Most forwarded e-mails annoy me, but some are actually humorous. This one rings a bit true. Besides my other options are to post about: the time I spent trying to find shoes to wear to school tomorrow, the time I spent figuring out how much this dog bite has cost me financially, the time I spent reading my boring book, the time I spent online with bill pay, the time I spent with a Verizon representative trying to get my bill lower, etc. What Makes 100%? What does it mean to give MORE than 100%? Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%? We have all been to those meetings where someone wants you to give over 100%. How about achieving 103%? What makes up 100% in life? Here's a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these questions: If: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z is represented as: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26. Then: H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K 8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98% and K-N-O-...

I am disappointed that I am not able to post Youtube videos to my blog lately. Today I tried to post a clip of Michelle Bachmann, a great embarrassment to Minnesota. The lady is a nutcase ! She inferred that the Swine Flu outbreak was related to the Democrats since the outbreak has occurred under Obama's presidency and earlier occurred during Carter's presidency. As usual, she has NO CLUE what she is talking about since the outbreak occurred during Ford's (Republican) presidency.

Today while I was chatting with my brother online, I learned Arlen Specter became a Democrat. Although this frightens me, it also entertains me. It looks like the Dems are closer being able to block the filibuster. Give it up Norm. Also today Sojourner Truth became the first African American woman to have a place of honor among the statues in the U.S. Capitol. Sojourner Truth was an abolitionist and a supporter of woman's rights. Michelle Obama spoke and perhaps Hillary Clinton summed it up by saying, "We're here because of barriers she tore down."

The Serenity Prayer "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference." I'm not sure of the origin of this prayer, but I thought about it today as I was home sick. Instead of purely focusing on taking care of my health, I also took some time to work on contacting the the foster parent of the dog that bit me. My goal was to set up a meeting with Animal Ark, the owner of the dog. My frustrations with this process are starting to become intense. First, Animal Ark has not contacted me once since the dog has bit my face. Second, my "out of pocket expense" hasn't been huge, but it adds up (driving to White Bear Lake for laser, plus $954 of my $1100 deductible). Lastly, since the scar is on my face, it's quite apparent to everyone I see and meet. As time continues, I think more and more about getting a lawyer. Although I want to "do the right thing," I feel a...

The Summer Day by Mary Oliver Who made the world? Who made the swan, and the black bear? Who made the grasshopper? This grasshopper, I mean-- the one who has flung herself out of the grass, the one who is eating sugar out of my hand, who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-- who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes. Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face. Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away. I don't know exactly what a prayer is. I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass, how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields, which is what I have been doing all day. Tell me, what else should I have done? Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon? Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? This poem was mentioned today while I was talking with a group after church. It reminded me of pictures I took last week on ...

I'm bummed that I was not able to post this video through Youtube. It's an entertaining look at the news amid the grim day to day news (economy, torture, pirates, national disasters, etc.). These guys, the Gregory Brothers, have auto-tuned the news. I especially like the Katie Couric part. If the link does not work, copy and paste this Youtube link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBb4cjjj1gI). They do have other clips. BTW- I saw it on Rachel Maddow.

I am trying to once again explain the difference between prose and poetry to my seventh graders. Today I tried to explain that poems are lyrical going as far as asking them to think about putting their poems to music. Me- "Think of your favorite type of music and sing or rap your poem. If it reads like a song, it is closer to poetry. If it reads more like a story..." Student 1- "What's your favorite type of music?" Me- "Polka" Student 2- "What's polka?" Me- "I don't really know." Student 3- "It's accordion music." Me- "That might be true. You start working on your poems, and I'll look for polka music on iTunes." I searched for the polka music and found some examples in iTunes. At the end of class I played a couple of the songs. Student 4- "It's the chicken dance song." Me- "Oh, yes, I think it is." Student 5- "I think I like polka music." I think this was fa...