Garlic?

Mystery plant at the neighbors…

Little Ticked Off

Where’s my pretty kite avatar?  Hmm?     RRrrrrrrrr.    It really upsets me that my avatar is missing when I comment at your blogs!

AND…

When I hit “My Comments” to see the replies to my comments on your blogs, I get…

nothing.

WP tells me that I should ‘make some friends by leaving some comments.’     Hey – I do have friends and I do leave comments.   SHOW THEM.

ratsafratsarats crap.

Partial Post

Howdy.

I have started and deleted I dont know HOW MANY posts and thought I’d best just put anything ‘out here’.   But nothing has seemed interesting or blog-worthy.  I have been visiting you all and lurking (by ‘you’ I mean all of you who might be wondering what’s happened to me and why I haven’t posted here awhile.  You know who you are, right?!)

Allow me to give you a sample of various thoughts streaming across my consciousness:

It’s raining here today.   

I am addicted to the TV show Bones.   Anyone see it last night?!

I read 300 pages for last weekend’s 24 Hour Read-A-Thon.    It may not seem like much but it probably represents about 6 hours of reading time.     So, what was I doing the other 18 hours of the ‘Thon!?     I slept about an hour and half (it was a NAP!)  and I went to yoga class for 2 hours.   Of course, there are some activities that are difficult to do while reading and I did some of those.   and the rest of it, I was blogging!   Reading posts of other readers, participating in mini-challenges to keep us all excited about the Read-A-Thon, and commenting.   COMMMENTING COMMENTING COMMENTING and all the clicks and links and reading posts to comment on.    That’s what took most of my remaining 14 hours:   cheering on the approximately 150 other participants!      It was fun.   🙂

I’m reading The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett;  I’m about half way through the 972 pages.    After I finish, I will continue to read Oliver Sacks’ The Man Who Thought His Wife Was a Hat.     And then I hope to start In the Woods by Tara French.  

If you want to know what I’m up to blogging-wise and don’t know about my book blog, you may want to visit me there by clicking here.     

I’ve made a few pies lately:    Chocolate Pecan, Orange Meringue, Chocolate Cream, etc.    I’ll be baking a Bourbon Apple tomorrow.

Oscar is the most apathetic therapy dog in the universe.    But he’s loved and beloved so I keep dragging him along on my volunteer visits.   It’s not that he is unfriendly;  more like obstinately apathetic in a cooperative kind of way.

I haven’t traveled anywhere lately but I have a trip scheduled to Phoenix in May.

I’m having lunch this Friday with my friend Teeni – looking forward to that!    Maybe we’ll take a photo.    We’ll definitely be talking about Joan! 

When I logged into this blog today, I noticed that a few days ago, one of my posts had 133 hits.   WOW!    It was one of my Duffy posts…    I’ve been averaging about 20 hits a day here, in case you want to compare stats…

It’s really strange how I have set up such different worlds between my blogs.    Almost like having two different residences – my summer home versus my vacation home?    Totally different neighborhoods, weather, architectural styles…     It’s just odd, in a way.    

A huge happy hip THANK YOU to JavaQueen for granting me some linky-love and giving me an award!   The one called Let’s Be Friends!!   yes, let’s!

By the way, does one’s avatar ‘go away’ with disuse?     I’ve been leaving comments under this ID but my pretty little kite isn’t showing up…

Well, just bookmark this post for when you need to get some sleep.  ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzz.   But, it’s SOMETHING!

Thoughts on Subbing

More random stuff to ponder…     ♦♦♦

One kid came up to ask a question about a person in a book the class was reading about the Titanic and was wondering why the text referred to Mrs. John Smith when the back of the book list of all the passengers referred to her as Mrs. Veronica Smith  (I’m making these names up – I really don’t remember what her REAL name was, shame on me) and I tried to explain to him that old archaic system of how wives used to only be referenced by the man they were married to.   I absolutely loved that he frowned and responded, “huh?  why?”     He thought it too confusing.    Good boy.    Women have their own identities and are not just extensions of the husband.   Not that I want to start the whole debate of girls belonging to their fathers until they are married off and then belong to the husband and the convenience? of taking the guy’s name issue.   I’m OK with most of it, but let me keep my first name and let me use Ms.

♦

I read a book that was lying on the desk of the teacher I was subbing for and now I can’t find it in Amazon in order to list it in my BOOKS-READ-IN-2009.   I’m bummed.   It was cute, too.   Something about how ‘If you think about it, all problems are math problems.’   The poor kid spends ever waking moment translating all issues and challenges of the day as a math problem until finally, he realizes that he woke up at 7 am, it only takes 3 minutes to get dressed, 5 minutes to eat breakfast, 1 minute to brush his teeth, and the bus is due to arrive at 7:42 ==>  no problem!  He’s got PLENTY of time to catch the bus.    However.  Later, the science teacher announces in class that ‘If you think about it, all problems are science problems.’   DARN IT!    very cute.

[Added later:  found it!   Math Curse by Jon Scieszka]

♦

I actually had to teach today.   Usually I have worksheets to pass out and I’m not really involved.   But today, we had read aloud and together as a class, ask questions, let’s work through this together, go over it again, etc and then some…  My mouth went dry from so much talking; I was SOO thirsty!      Lesson was on linking verbs, predicate noun and adjectives, passive and active voice, regular and irregular verbs.     Such fun.

Sunshine

It’s 8:14 am on Tuesday as I type this sentence.

I just bebopped back here to post this awesome award I just accepted from my friend Teeni:

 

I love sunshine and this does mean a lot.   Thanks!   

Usually, I graciously accept my awards and move on with little fanfare, no crowing on my own blog and no passing-it-along.   Not that I don’t have tons of favorites – I have way too many!    So, if you are reading this and you ‘know’ me and thus are probably on my blogroll or are on a blogroll of one of these on my blogroll (Reader has severely diminished my use of my own blogroll as a way to find  you all….)   FEEL FREE to accept, claim and pass it along!    Do go read Teeni’s post and follow the bread crumbs for how SHE got it, though.    Common courtesy thing I try to encourage.    If you’ve ever commented here before (or might) and I didn’t (or won’t) delete it as spam — ha!!   then feel free to accept some sunshine.   🙂

I’ve been up since 4:30 ish.    Hub had a plane to catch.   The one he should have been on yesterday but was cancelled due to weather.    Good thing he was home – a check arrived I needed his signature to cash.  I mean deposit.  [another snort.]

I made coffee and confused the dog by giving him an early breakfast.     

And I waited for the phone to ring to invite me to substitute teach.    The call could come as early as 5:30 so I got in and out of the shower before that.

Yea, they didn’t call.

RRrrrrrrrrr.     It really can be annoying that you don’t know if you might have to work.    Of course, I could say NO if they call, but if the day might as well be stuck in a classroom earning some dollars, I might as well be ready, just in case.     But now I’m ‘ready’ and wish I could crawl back in bed.  

Yea FLEXIBILITY!   waving my pompons!   woo hoo!

I haven’t ‘worked’ in 3 weeks.    But thankfully, I do know that I will work tomorrow.    The coordinator called up with a few advance notice assignments last week and one will be tomorrow.   I’ll be at the high school working as an aide with the special needs department.     It’s not bad.     I seem to like the assignments no one else feels comfortable with.   I like middle school and I like being an aide.    I REALLY disliked the younger elementary grades.     Just 45 minutes as the ‘reading’ teacher in a second grade class and I achieved out of control chaos in 28 minutes.   Scary!     They’re cute but menacing.

My newly decided to do list for the day is…

Finish this post.   Finish a review of Coetzee’s Life and Times of Michael K at the other blog.    (you DO know the link, right?)   The book was simple and complicated.    I’m still thinking about it…   Go to the bank.    Call for a slip reservation at the marina, decide which marine surveyor to hire and give calls back yea and nay, and take a nap.    

I wish you all a day full of prosperous joyous sunshiny smiles.

Four Things Meme

MusEditions tagged me!   Here goes:

4 places I go over and over:

(1) Oscar’s Doggie Day Care – drop off, pick up, over and over and over.
(2) The Home for the Aged;  Oscar and I visit Wednesdays and Thursdays
(3) TF Green Airport, Providence RI  – MUCH easier place to catch an airplane than Boston Logan.
(4) Borders – I can’t help it!  I love books.   And this is where I tutor since the Library is closed on Mondays.

Oscar and Santa 2008

4 people who e-mail me regularly:

(1) My husband.
(2) My mom’s side of the family is always sending out ‘stuff’:   birthday notices, old photos, jokes, etc.
(3) I get these crazy spam messages designed to look like I sent them to myself and I have 2 spam checkers that they squeak by somehow.
(4) DSW Shoes.

4 of my favorite places to eat:

(1) Wendys – I rarely go, however.  (and Arby’s and Sonic – I NEVER go because they are not in New England.)
(2) Harry’s  in Middleborough
(3) BB’s Lawnside BBQ in Kansas City (Gates is #2)
(4) The Black Pearl – NewportRI

4 places you’d rather be NOW:

(1) Back asleep in bed.
(2) Hawaii
(3) Aruba
(4) Fiji Islands

4 TV shows I could watch over and over:

(1) Third Rock
(2) ESPN
(3) Bones
(4) Friends

4 movies I could watch over and over:

(1) Kill Bill I & II
(2) The Breakfast Club
(3) Philadelphia Story
(4) Moulin Rouge

4 people I hope will respond:

(1)   Wendy – I realize you are having connectivity issues so whatever.
(2)  Elena
(3)  Grace Magazine
(4)  Hallie

Random Thoughts at the Regularly Scheduled Time

Getting Away From It All…

♦  This post/title is from my drafts.   I don’t know what happened that made me not post it.   And if I stole this post title (some uneasy feeling makes me wonder) that I apologize for not properly crediting and will fix/acknowledge/change if reprimanded.  These green ♦ things/sentences are NEW and the purple were the original parts of that draft…   Just so you know.  In case you are curious.

♦  Got this from the cool QUOTE feature at Writer Chick.   (Can you tell I think she is awesome?)

You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life. — Albert Camus

♦  I don’t know why this is underlining….  I can’t seem to turn it off….

♦  OK, figgered it out.

♦  I have a million things to do!  in the next H O U R.   and I’m sitting here blogging.  sigh.

♦  Job Post # 6 or 7 of lots:  (see?  I’m frantic just to post something/anything)    I have applied for a few jobs in the last few weeks and keep finding more interesting things pop up here South of Boston.   I really REALLY don’t want to commute.   Anyway, only one reject letter so far.   I’m also thinking about being a substitute teacher.    I love children but only when they are cute and adorable and agreeable and clean.    Not that I hate them when they aren’t all those things, but…   

♦  I’m spending a lot of my time reading and yapping about books so if I’m not here much, you know where to find me.     if you don’t, you just need to read down a few posts…

♦  OK, I really gotta go.    toodles, my pets!

Quick and Boring

Hmmm, this title was typed and then I started to think that maybe I might give everyone the wrong impression.  (Wondering if I was about to describe a recent sexual encounter?  NO, not that!)  

OH WELL.

I’m typing just to type!  (again)   My two-posts-ago post was a similar bust-through of blogger-block.  WHAT TO POST ON?   I have 17 drafts in my draft-well and yet, none seem post-worthy but I also don’t want to delete them.

That post also put a few of you asleep, so I will keep this short.   THUS?   Quick – I don’t plan on typing much and BORING – certainly, the opposite of exciting.

CuriousC as a little kid - way back when. (the 70s)

Where does the expression ‘oh well’ come from and what does it really mean?

Thank goodness, Photo Friday is tomorrow.   I think the theme will be COLORs.   UH OH!  NOPE!   The theme is FOOD!    Darn, I’ve cooked some really yummy meals recently and failed to photo-doc the evidence.   I was getting ready for the colors of the season theme but that is NEXT week.

Food, huh?    Maybe I’ll do a funky still-life with the fruits & veggies in the house…     ANYONE WITH A SUG, please comment with such!  Thank you very much.     

CuriousC

The TWO WORD and add some MEME

Teeni wants to play tag.   I’m it and then it’s…  YOUR TURN!

I am:   incredibly blessed.
I think:   too much.
I know:   that I think too much.
I have:  a pretty darn nice life.
I wish:  I had more motivation to do more than just wish.
I hate:  using the word ‘hate’.
I miss:  the eyeballs I had at the age of 20.
I fear:  a life of fear and/or a life of regret.
I hear:  the voice of Gene Lavanchy of MyFox Boston 25    

I smell:  a faint hint of Strawberry Lemonade shampoo on my pup but only when I bury my nose into his coat.  And not for long – he goes to daycare today…
I crave:  Dove’s dark chocolate.
I search:  for meaning and purpose.
I wonder:  (why I wonder so much.)  I wonder as a wander out over the sea…
I regret:  a few things, I suppose, but nothing that I haven’t gotten over. I think.
I love:  my husband, my dog, my family, my life.
I ache:  in my knees occasionally but not that often, really.
I am not:  an irresponsible lazy ass do-nothin’.
I believe:  in love. ♥
I dance:  all the time.
I sing:  even more than I dance.
I cry:  at sad movies.
I fight:  rarely.
I win:  sometimes.
I lose:  at Xbox racing.
I never:  mean to hurt people with the thoughtless things I sometimes say.
I always:  try to apologize.
I confuse:  poker hands all the freakin’ time.
I listen:  when I realize, duh-it’s important.
I can usually be found:  at my PC.
I am scared:  to drive in Boston by myself. at night.
I need:  to get over myself.
I am happy about:  most things, and generally most of the time when I stop and actually think about it. 
I imagine:  quite vividly and in color.
I tag:   Hallie, Museditions, FightingWindmills, Author/Jan (and Joan but I expect she’s already been tagged or didn’t wait for such a triviality.),

and YOU!

 

and to help you out, I’m providing the blanks like Teeni did…

I am:
I think:
I know:
I have:
I wish:
I hate:
I miss:
I fear:
I hear:
I smell:
I crave:
I search:
I wonder:
I regret:
I love:
I ache:
I am not:
I believe:
I dance:
I sing:
I cry:
I fight:
I win:
I lose:
I never:
I always:
I confuse:
I listen:
I can usually be found:
I am scared:
I need:
I am happy about:
I imagine:
I tag:

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