Hi monster ponster sponster! :)

Infi's back, Sarge is on the mend, or at least on the track to it, Sam is making progress in the job hunt, Hebe is turning into a fish, things are good.

Now if Wolf and Toad could just land something lucrative...

Wolf and toad? maybe featuring roles in one of Aesops Fables?

Don't forget the minifobs on the mend

YAY!
Knew this earlier, but forgot to tell you's.

Going to the Family Fun Day on Saturday. It's in a local park, arranged by a coalition of local churches and the council (AVDC) I have no issue going to a church sponsored event. I work in a faith-based school. Jebus is okay with paying my wages, he can deal with me watching kids on a bouncy castle.

I had already arranged to go with Tennant's Mum (and Tennant).
I sent Tiger a postcard back in July, and followed it up with a handwritten card last week - including a recipe I thought his Mum might like, and of course an invite for Saturday.

Tiger-mum called me today to say yes, yes, yes. And I could hear Tiger in the background, wanting to speak to me.
Being an autistic child (and five years old) he said his set piece all in one breath - thank you for my card I look forward to seeing you at school and on Saturday thank you goodbye. But I was happy that he wanted to speak to a disembodied me.

Tiger-mum is seeing Tennant-mum tomorrow - the birthday party of a child who will be in my class next year - and will confirm arrangements.

It could be that something has come up and/ or she can't make it.
But at the very least (and it's not the least at all) I will see Tiger.

I'm so happy I can't tell you.

that is awesome, sundae. You've found your calling!!

I'm happy because the roofers are here, the roofers are here! I am FINALLY getting a whole new roof!!

YAY!

Sounds like roofer madness.

lol

HAGGIS @ Zen!

For me, I'm going to be Infinite Monkey Unplugged for a while this weekend. My bro and sis-in-law bought some land in Hocking Hills (beautiful part of OH...not the flat crap like around here) and I'm going to drive down tomorrow and spend the night.

Unless you climb a hill, there is no cell reception. There is, however, a really nice cabin/house, A/C (gonna be a scorcher this weekend), my sis-in-law's cooking, clear night skies where you can see forever, many critters, and good company. Oh, and their chocolate lab who I luvz.

The things that WON'T be there: students yelling at me. Traffic. The same four walls. My anxiety.

Sounds like fun!

I think so. :)

I just had to add, he was giving me directions over the phone, and the last part was "turn left at the pile of rocks."

Now THOSE are some directions I can live with! :lol:

http://cheweb.tamu.edu/orgs/groups/J...oopy-happy.gif

I'm off work all next week ( official holiday here thursday )

AND

It's my 11th Wedding Anniversary Tuesday !! :) :) :)

You go girl - have a wonderful time.
Sounds like just what you need.

Re directions...

Another pleasant day in the countryside
Has ended up in tears on a stormy night
'Cause you can't follow my directions home
But don't stop now

God knows where the satellite's taking us
I can't tell what's right in front of us
But I hang on every word
And don't stop now
No, don't stop now
You give me something I can write about

You get fooled by the lightning every time
See the after-image of my outline
And you turn the wrong way 'round
Well, don't stop now
No, don't stop now
You give me something I can write about
You give me something I can cry about

In a church house ten miles out of town
Is the devil gonna track me down?
And travel through a tunnel in the trees
Just remember that's how you get to me

There's no number on the house
The birds are heading south
Sometimes you have to turn
The wrong way 'round
Sometimes you get too close to nowhere now

This is helpful in the silence
I wait with a blank piece of paper on the top of my head
And all I want is something I can write about
All I want is something I can cry about

Bananas - just as good as I remember.

Sometimes I just feel valued by Dwellars.
I don't make a big deal because it would sound like fishing for further compliments.

But in this last week I've had some people who I really like and admire being very kind.
And that makes me so happy.

Kind of what?

Kind of odd, really. But that's why I come here.
I haven't been completely even in a long time.

Happy today because I was back at school!
A wonderful, wonderful day.

Every Wednesday the class is taken by Ms Mc - the teacher I worked with when I was volunteering. She is an inspiration (she inspired me to become a Teaching Assistant anyway!) and all the children adore her and want to do their best for her. She is now Deputy Head, and is just an extraordinary teacher. She is so effortless and natural, but works the children hard while playing up their positives. She teaches for all learning abilities and learning styles. Tiger doesn't really need me on Wednesdays!

He was pleased to be back too.
He has a new blue and green coat, but the zip is picked out in orange, so there is a little bit of Tiger left for me :)
He said just before I left today, "I really like it in this classroom." So that kept me smiling all the way home.

He had a bad night last night, Tiger-Mum said. He couldn't sleep and had lots of questions, then woke up at 05.00 and was worrying. I think he'll probably crash out tonight! But at least he's seen that I'm still there and I will look after him. And also he realises that school is still the same, it's just a different classroom. He won't see all his friends all the time, but he has at least three good friends in the class, and can sit and play with the others at lunchtime.

Tomorrow I spend time with my new teacher, Mrs M.
I've never worked with her before. Opinion is divided amongst the TAs - nothing really bad, just that she's very strict and can really yell. I'll get used to it. I can always look forward to Wednesdays! It will be a change for Tiger too - Ms Mc used to take Reception one afternoon a week, so he knew her. I think we'll weather it though. He responds well to a disciplined environment.

There's a young lass at uni, a first year BA student who is studying on a 'research studentship' with my supervisor. She's so enthusiastic, in first flourish of obsession on redcoats and 18th century british army. She's doing blogs, and has written a wiki page, and is bouncing about all over Twitter :p

It's fun to watch. She's clearly got a ridiculously bright future as an academic if she chooses to go for that.

Oxymoron alert!

You don't think it's possible to have a bright future as an academic?

I think the future for academics is dismal.

I see more magical thinking, more making shit up and calling it good, more conforming facts to suit conclusions than ever before. That makes me sad and discouraged.

Dana's description of this young woman's actions and energy does seem exciting, and if she's happy and finds happiness in academics, I'd be thrilled for her. If the definition of a bright future includes good pay, respect, career growth, etc, then I think the future for academics is grim.

Ugh. I should probably just turn Fox News Radio off now. I'm kinda makin myself sick.

Depends which part of academia you're in. Eighteenth-century military history isn't where the big bucks and the worst practices are.

The immediate future doesn't look great in terms of employment conditions. But probably better than the working conditions in your average firm in the private sector. The difficulty is going to be tenure. That's a thing of the past i fear. But that still leaves a career to be had on diffferent terms that can be fulfilling. Historians aren't paid fantastically well, but in terms of job satisfaction and respect they do pretty well.

Spoke to Lola a last night.
She's just such a sweet person.

Although apparently I speak too fast in my furrin accent :)
Maybe I should post some YouTube vids with subtitles to get her used to it.

Not seriously, but not poking fun.
I watch most programmes with subtitles when the option is there, stops me missing too much. It's especially helpful on American shows, where unfamiliar terms and pronunciations are used, as well as having "stirring" soundtracks to contend with.

Happy today because we had another good day settling down at school.
Mrs M was really easy to work with, and Mrs J (the other TA) has always been friendly and helpful, and continued to be such.
She's so experienced and works so well in her role that I might be intimidated with anyone else. But with her I know I can ask questions, and I don't have to be embarrassed at my lack of knowledge.

Got new tires on my bike. Cost a pretty penny but worth it. She feels very turny and has more grip. Should be fun.

It's the little things.

a nap.

back in a while.

Got a scope mount for my 870 today and put a 4x scope on it. going to sight it in at the range on Thursday.

Insurance company settled on my jet ski destroyed by someone else. Got a small chunk of change for it, less than the 4k I was asking but it was better than nothing. I am happy because I really did not want to go through the hassel of the insurance claim when it specifically stated that it was not covered if someone else was driving it, which they were. So better than nothing... Boat US is the bombdiggity.

:thumb2:

Good news! Still amazed that the dude broke your jet ski and wouldn't fix it.

Yea, it is a sore point. I have since found out about some of his other actions in the community. He has a reputation. He owns a small business and has been implicated in some scams concerning failure to take care of people he sold equipment to and not repairing or replacing defective equipment.

Pleased it wasn't a total loss for you Merc.
A costly lesson :( but once bitten...

True dat. I am way to trusting to people in person...

The world sometimes feels like a shitty place.
And sometimes you feel like you've failed at some hidden test and are being punished for it.

Then you get a telephone call and you remember that "World is crazier and more of it than we think". And that Brianna is a Grade A tourmaline :)

It's friday

Coming out of the grocery store this afternoon, it started raining--the first time we've seen rain in months. And all the people in the parking lot began spontaneously cheering and high-fiving each other. It was both beautiful and surreal.

Oooooh yeah. Love that moment.

I honestly cannot imagine being so grateful for the rain. Even our 'droughts' just mean it hasn't rained enough to keep the reservoirs full.

I only like the rain when it cools things down.
And for the smell of the pavements.

I am always so much more grateful for the snow.

I used to love snow. I still get that fluttery feeling when it first starts falling. But having a dog has proper put me off :p

How many times have you woken up, prayed for the rain?

it rained today and my roommate came home from the hospital. haven't been around much due to working but here's a run down. prostate cancer removal. yep. they removed his prostate. i'm happy the surgery went well, i'm happy he's home, yeah i'm happy for the rain too BUT i'm not happy about emptying pee bags! :eek:

now he's on a restricted diet at the moment. applesauce, ice cream, etc... fixing to go to the store for said items.... would it be wrong to cook up a ribeye and eat it in front of him?? i'm so evil sometimes it's fun!

not if he takes a coupla percocets first.

Is he more cranky than before? Is he in more pain? You think he'll mind if I call to ask how he's doing?

lol bri, i actually just bought a sandwich.

lola he's in too much pain to be cranky! :D but i'm wishing monday were here already! give him a day or two before calling. he's still short winded but i will tell him that you asked how he's doing.

Good on you for taking care of him plthijinx.

Lil Pete and I went to Rochester yesterday to represent our club at a fencing tournament yesterday. That meant 3 hours each way driving. Which meant some conversation with my teenage daughter. She talked and listened on religion, politics, and history maybe this school of hers is worth the money. Her ideas are becoming much clearer. She has also found her happy place at school. AP Euro is a small class taught by an intellectual to the sharpest kids. She walked in late this week to be questioned by her teacher, "Do you know who Eddie Izard is?" "You mean the cross-dressing comedian?" Followed by peals of laughter since she had essentially quoted her instructor's introduction.

Oh we kicked ass btw. She got 4th in sabre, I got 4th in epee, and we both fenced foil ending up in a father / daughter final that didn't go my way at all. I'm claiming leg cramps though.

When you can snatch this pebble out of my hand, grasshopper, then you will be the master.

Happy camper today because there are seven men in my bungalow... And, they are installing four enormous solar panels on my roofP! Hurrah!! It's part of a local government scheme (sponsored by national government) and I get to use the energy collected from my panels during the day. Any I don't use will be stored and delivered to the National Grid, the income from which will go to pay for the installation. once it's all paid up then my local council collects the profit.

So I shall be looking to consume as much of the free stuff as possible during daylight hours, slow cooking etc and will be looking at my heating needs trying to use as much electricity as i can.

happy bunny..:)

Much happiness in the cellar, hurrah!

...but my leg just cramped while I was posting that. I'm holding Griff responsible.

Insurance company just sent us another check for the loss of the Jet Ski, almost the same amount as the first check. Not what we wanted for it when we were selling it, but damm! A hell of a lot better than what we expected. Go Boat US!

Excellent! That must ease the sting of it a little.

God you don't know. We asked 4k for it at sale and were willing to accept 3.5k. We lost it in what was clearly not covered by the insurance but the insurance company stepped up to the plate and covered us for half of that. So we went from a total loss to 1/2 of what we were asking. Go Boat US!

The Baseball Head is trying to eat my niece!

Unexcused absence, little heathens. My brother does this with the girls every September. The girls love baseball, especially the oldest one...a real competitor in the game herself.

Very nice... happy time !

They're happy kids. Happy family. I hold my brother and sis-in-law and their kids up as the goal every family should strive for. I'm not bragging; I had nothing to do with it...they're just amazing people.

Thanks lamp. :)

Wow cute nieces!
And more importantly, happy people!

As everyone else has said of course :)

Great pics, IM! The kiddies are adorable!

oh, and GO REDS!

Cincinnati Trivia:

After Pete Rose was banned for life from baseball, what was Pete Rose Way renamed?




The Cooperstown Bypass

Thanks folks! I'll be here all week. Try the Skyline chili.

bwahahahahaahah

You really have to try the Graeter's, too!