I start my Master's in three weeks. Yikes!
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Saturday, April 29, 2006
I Still Find It Hard to Believe
People like this really exist!
ABBY: My husband, "Ron," and I are at odds over parenting
our 7-year-old son, "Brett." My husband is very domestic.
He cooks like a world-class chef and does more housework
than any man I know of.
I have read Dr. James Dobson's books on family. He clearly
states that a father should be the manly role model for the
son, to prevent the son from being homosexual. I'm concerned
that Brett will learn feminine ways from my husband and turn
out to be gay. How can I convince Ron that he needs to teach
Brett the more manly things in life?
-- WORRIED MOM IN FLORIDA
WORRIED MOM: From my perspective, you don't need to change
a thing. With all due respect to Dr. Dobson, your husband
is already a manly role model to your son. He is teaching
the boy important survival skills that will be invaluable
when he is older. With luck, your son will turn out to be
every bit the man -- and father -- that your husband is.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
My New Toy
Allow me to take you back in time....
We're kids and the cool thing to have is a walkman- you mean we get to take our mix tapes with us!?!
We're older and now our walkman's play CDs. I coveted those even if they skipped and even if you could only play one CD (no mixes) but I refused to pay the hefty price.
It's college and my favorite electronic device is my 5-disc changer. Pick a mood, pick 5 CDs, hit shuffle, and you're set for awhile. Oh I loved it and I used it constantly.
We're still giving and getting mix tapes from friends and sweethearts, but before long, there are mix CDs. Not getting a CD player in my car is turning out to be a nuisance.
I still won't get a CD walkman. Instead I buy cheap walkman-like device after cheap walkman-like device looking for the perfect running partner.
It's only a few years ago now and I've moved. My huge CD collection is horribly neglected because I can't be bothered to use the 5-disc changer. Now I'm coveting iPods, but buying groceries is more pressing. My fiance wins one in a contest and I gaze at it longingly.
I blast music from my computer speakers whenever I clean. I take forever to put away laundry because the music can't be heard in the bedroom.
It's October of 2005. I find out that my MIL will only work out on her treadmill at certain times because it's when the radio plays good songs. I decide that we should get her an iPod for her November birthday.
We order it and open it so we can fill it up with her favorite songs. I install iTunes on my computer and fall in love. I put about 1,000 songs on it right away.
iTunes becomes my first stop on the computer. A bunch of my favorite songs are playing again. I have no need to change CDs. I even make a Christmas folder. I am in heaven. I blast music over my computer more often. My fiance is being driven crazy (he's not a fan of my music).
It's April (finally) and I've just finished an exhausting month. I went on two plane trips sans music (well, I borrowed my fiance's iPod on one, but it only had some of my music on it). I'm trying to clean house and the nice weather is making a walk outside seem nice. I've grown tired of my 1,000 songs and spend large chunks of the day getting my total over 3,000 (which takes care of A-C plus a bunch of showtunes). I'm falling in love with iTunes even more and start creating other playlists to handle my growing library.
I'm craving an mp3 player.
I decide to splurge and head to the Apple website.
I am still put off by the price. I can't imagine dropping several hundred dollars on a luxury. But the shuffle is cheap. I seem to recall that no one likes it.
I head over to the Sony website. I love the style of their little beans.
Same storage sizes as the shuffle, higher price.
I google shuffle reviews- why don't people like it?
First I discover that the shuffle has come way down in price.
I read about the pros and cons and consider what I would use a portable mp3 player for.
Hmmmm...
exercising if I could get off my butt
cleaning
plane travel
I can't use it at work, don't take a train or bus, don't spend time at the library, don't DJ, don't go away for months on end. It'd be nice for the car, but I doubt I'd use it often.
The reviews say that you have to be willing to create good playlists. I love organizing information. I love categorizing music. I've already made great playlists.
The reviews say that it's annoying not to see the song info.
I reconsider my uses. I decide that I don't really have any use for song info.
Hmmm.....
The shuffle comes with a special lanyard so you can wear it around your neck. All the other mp3 players require additional accessories to become exercise friendly.
The shuffle won't scratch easily.
I actually have a very difficult time using the iPod's "intuitive" controls. I like my gadgets super simple. The shuffle can't get any simpler.
So I've decided- it's the perfect player for me plus I could use a little more spontaneity so I plan to take full advantage of the autofill feature.
Now I need to pick a size.
Bigger is so tempting.
I do the math.
I remember how cool and satisfying it was to play five CDs on shuffle.
I imagine twelve on shuffle- ten hours of music. I can't imagine needing any more than that for my uses. I decide the little one is plenty.
I splurge on the iPod shuffle, and I'm only a few years late for all the fun.
You can have your new video iPods. I'll take my little baby streamlined version and love it.
Yay, I'm so excited!
We're kids and the cool thing to have is a walkman- you mean we get to take our mix tapes with us!?!
We're older and now our walkman's play CDs. I coveted those even if they skipped and even if you could only play one CD (no mixes) but I refused to pay the hefty price.
It's college and my favorite electronic device is my 5-disc changer. Pick a mood, pick 5 CDs, hit shuffle, and you're set for awhile. Oh I loved it and I used it constantly.
We're still giving and getting mix tapes from friends and sweethearts, but before long, there are mix CDs. Not getting a CD player in my car is turning out to be a nuisance.
I still won't get a CD walkman. Instead I buy cheap walkman-like device after cheap walkman-like device looking for the perfect running partner.
It's only a few years ago now and I've moved. My huge CD collection is horribly neglected because I can't be bothered to use the 5-disc changer. Now I'm coveting iPods, but buying groceries is more pressing. My fiance wins one in a contest and I gaze at it longingly.
I blast music from my computer speakers whenever I clean. I take forever to put away laundry because the music can't be heard in the bedroom.
It's October of 2005. I find out that my MIL will only work out on her treadmill at certain times because it's when the radio plays good songs. I decide that we should get her an iPod for her November birthday.
We order it and open it so we can fill it up with her favorite songs. I install iTunes on my computer and fall in love. I put about 1,000 songs on it right away.
iTunes becomes my first stop on the computer. A bunch of my favorite songs are playing again. I have no need to change CDs. I even make a Christmas folder. I am in heaven. I blast music over my computer more often. My fiance is being driven crazy (he's not a fan of my music).
It's April (finally) and I've just finished an exhausting month. I went on two plane trips sans music (well, I borrowed my fiance's iPod on one, but it only had some of my music on it). I'm trying to clean house and the nice weather is making a walk outside seem nice. I've grown tired of my 1,000 songs and spend large chunks of the day getting my total over 3,000 (which takes care of A-C plus a bunch of showtunes). I'm falling in love with iTunes even more and start creating other playlists to handle my growing library.
I'm craving an mp3 player.
I decide to splurge and head to the Apple website.
I am still put off by the price. I can't imagine dropping several hundred dollars on a luxury. But the shuffle is cheap. I seem to recall that no one likes it.
I head over to the Sony website. I love the style of their little beans.
Same storage sizes as the shuffle, higher price.
I google shuffle reviews- why don't people like it?
First I discover that the shuffle has come way down in price.
I read about the pros and cons and consider what I would use a portable mp3 player for.
Hmmmm...
exercising if I could get off my butt
cleaning
plane travel
I can't use it at work, don't take a train or bus, don't spend time at the library, don't DJ, don't go away for months on end. It'd be nice for the car, but I doubt I'd use it often.
The reviews say that you have to be willing to create good playlists. I love organizing information. I love categorizing music. I've already made great playlists.
The reviews say that it's annoying not to see the song info.
I reconsider my uses. I decide that I don't really have any use for song info.
Hmmm.....
The shuffle comes with a special lanyard so you can wear it around your neck. All the other mp3 players require additional accessories to become exercise friendly.
The shuffle won't scratch easily.
I actually have a very difficult time using the iPod's "intuitive" controls. I like my gadgets super simple. The shuffle can't get any simpler.
So I've decided- it's the perfect player for me plus I could use a little more spontaneity so I plan to take full advantage of the autofill feature.
Now I need to pick a size.
Bigger is so tempting.
I do the math.
I remember how cool and satisfying it was to play five CDs on shuffle.
I imagine twelve on shuffle- ten hours of music. I can't imagine needing any more than that for my uses. I decide the little one is plenty.
I splurge on the iPod shuffle, and I'm only a few years late for all the fun.
You can have your new video iPods. I'll take my little baby streamlined version and love it.
Yay, I'm so excited!
Monday, April 24, 2006
Quiz Time!: Humor
| the Cutting Edge |
| CLEAN | SPONTANEOUS | DARK Your humor's mostly innocent and off-the-cuff, but somehow there's something slightly menacing about you. Part of your humor is making people a little uncomfortable, even if the things you say aren't themselves confrontational. You probably have a very dry delivery, or are seriously over-the-top. Your type is the most likely to appreciate a good insult and/or broken bone and/or very very fat person dancing. PEOPLE LIKE YOU: David Letterman - John Belushi  The 3-Variable Funny Test! - it rules - If you're interested, try my best friend's best test: The Genghis Khan Genetic Fitness Masterpiece |
My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:
|
| Link: The 3 Variable Funny Test written by jason_bateman on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test |
Weather
| You Are Lightning |
 Beautiful yet dangerous People will stop and watch you when you appear Even though you're capable of random violence You are best known for: your power Your dominant state: performing |
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Potato In Salem 29 (33)
Sorry this is so late. I was having too much fun with all the new music I put on my computer.Plus, last night I won a karaoke contest so I'm still excited about that. It was really cool and a perfect end to my vacation week. I haven't really had anything to say lately. Between busyness and recovery from busyness, there hasn't been much left.
But life is good.
Monday, April 17, 2006
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Potato Visits the Museum of Science
Nobody paid potato any attention the entire time we were there until we got into the dinosaur section. Suddenly, he became a kid magnet. That little boy ran right for him.
Potato and I had a great time in the math room.
We couldn't get in the space shuttle, but it was fun to see anyway.
Potato and I had a great time in the math room.
We couldn't get in the space shuttle, but it was fun to see anyway.
More museum....
Oh Give Me a Home.......this was a mix of models and background.
Almost potato size....
A cool tornado. We couldn't get the kids to stop playing with it for very long so it was tough to get this picture.
We're almost home....
Almost potato size....
A cool tornado. We couldn't get the kids to stop playing with it for very long so it was tough to get this picture.
We're almost home....
Museum of Science, cont.
This was just about the only interactive station without a line.
The zoom was broken, but it was cool anyway. Check out the TV screen.
Fun with mirrors....
I wish I could have lots of potatos.
The zoom was broken, but it was cool anyway. Check out the TV screen.
Fun with mirrors....
I wish I could have lots of potatos.
CD Recommendation
Pink's new CD, I'm Not Dead, is teriffic.
Just now, the song playing in iTunes caught my ear so I checked who it was. It's Pink. When I've listened to it consciously and as background, it has grabbed my attention.
She is so versatile.
Just now, the song playing in iTunes caught my ear so I checked who it was. It's Pink. When I've listened to it consciously and as background, it has grabbed my attention.
She is so versatile.
Potato In Salem 28 (32)
Yesterday we went to the Museum of Science to see the Star Wars exhibit. The exhibit was so-so, but the trip was good. After the museum, I headed out for some much needed karaoke. Last time we went to this place, the singing was kind of blah, but last night the singers were good. Overall a good time.Happy Easter everyone.
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Potato In Salem 27 (31)
Our school play is this weekend so I've been busy with that all week. The kids are great. There's been a little added drama with the adults, though so I'll be glad when it's over.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
While I Was At the ASCD conference
Potato hung out at the VetteFest because he didn't have a badge for ASCD. Your absent blogger has made it home safely from Chicago. Ten hours in airports, 26 hours in workshops and sessions, and not nearly enough time sleeping or eating, but rejuvenated and full of ideas and positive about the future.
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