26 October, 2007
25 October, 2007
Not quite so Lost
I did it. I figured out how to walk downhill both ways in the Belmont parking garage. (For more information on this problem, please see the previous post titled "Lost".)
Today I parked fairly close to where I was when I got lost in the parking garage. I was on the row that goes downhill between level 6 and level 5. Since the day I got lost, I also figured out that there are two elevators in the garage, one on the west side and one on the east. The row I was on goes from west to east, downhill. So I walked downhill to the east elevator and rode from level 5 down to the "pedestrian level", and when I finished teaching, I walked to the west elevator and went up to level 6, and then walked downhill to my car. It was very exciting.
Today I parked fairly close to where I was when I got lost in the parking garage. I was on the row that goes downhill between level 6 and level 5. Since the day I got lost, I also figured out that there are two elevators in the garage, one on the west side and one on the east. The row I was on goes from west to east, downhill. So I walked downhill to the east elevator and rode from level 5 down to the "pedestrian level", and when I finished teaching, I walked to the west elevator and went up to level 6, and then walked downhill to my car. It was very exciting.
07 October, 2007
Holy Spaces and a new church
My mom and I visited a new church when she came to visit in August, and I realized so much that I've been missing my church in Luxembourg.
Today, the girls decided to go with me to "the organ church" because of communion. It's World Communion Sunday, according to the Methodists, so in honor of that, they invited the choir from a Korean church. The ladies were wearing traditional dresses, and they all looked so beautiful.
After church, the girls and I went up to look at the organ. It has three keyboards (I've forgotten what they are called as a group, besides their individual names: Great, Swell, and Choir), and at least 3 octaves of pedals. The pipes and the trumpets are so beautiful, along with the really beautiful windows in that church.
A history of the project, some good photos, and specifications on the organ are on the Milnar Organ site.
Pictures of the sanctuary windows are on the First United Methodist of Murfreesboro site on their Photographs page.
In Sunday school one day at the Assembly of God church we had been (or still are?) attending, one of the ladies was saying that it was disgusting to look at all the opulence of the European cathedrals, especially in the Vatican. I think she's wrong. I think there is something to be said for holy spaces. Solomon's temple was filled with holy and opulent things. The tent of the tabernacle as well. I think that the concept of a holy space is entirely Biblical, and it makes me sad when churches have no regard for this concept at all. It's nice to be in a church again that understands the idea. Is it too much to have stained glass windows and a pipe organ if that makes the sanctuary a holy space and helps lead us all toward God? I think it's exactly the right idea.
Hopefully, we'll make it to choir practice next Sunday.
It's just so amazing to have this church in the middle of nowhere in Tennessee. I'm really starting to feel more at home.
Today, the girls decided to go with me to "the organ church" because of communion. It's World Communion Sunday, according to the Methodists, so in honor of that, they invited the choir from a Korean church. The ladies were wearing traditional dresses, and they all looked so beautiful.
After church, the girls and I went up to look at the organ. It has three keyboards (I've forgotten what they are called as a group, besides their individual names: Great, Swell, and Choir), and at least 3 octaves of pedals. The pipes and the trumpets are so beautiful, along with the really beautiful windows in that church.
A history of the project, some good photos, and specifications on the organ are on the Milnar Organ site.
Pictures of the sanctuary windows are on the First United Methodist of Murfreesboro site on their Photographs page.
In Sunday school one day at the Assembly of God church we had been (or still are?) attending, one of the ladies was saying that it was disgusting to look at all the opulence of the European cathedrals, especially in the Vatican. I think she's wrong. I think there is something to be said for holy spaces. Solomon's temple was filled with holy and opulent things. The tent of the tabernacle as well. I think that the concept of a holy space is entirely Biblical, and it makes me sad when churches have no regard for this concept at all. It's nice to be in a church again that understands the idea. Is it too much to have stained glass windows and a pipe organ if that makes the sanctuary a holy space and helps lead us all toward God? I think it's exactly the right idea.
Hopefully, we'll make it to choir practice next Sunday.
It's just so amazing to have this church in the middle of nowhere in Tennessee. I'm really starting to feel more at home.
02 October, 2007
Lost
I'm so far behind in blogging, and there is so much to say, and I'm so tired.
I had yet another break-down today. I suppose that partly it was related to my thinking about Dad, but partly related to frustration. Though I hesitate to mention this because it sounds like a joke, I got lost in the parking garage after teaching today. I remembered walking downhill to the elevator in the morning, and I got on the elevator at Level 5. So as I was leaving, I decided to go up to Level 6 so I could walk downhill to get to my car instead of walking up the ramp from Level 5.
When I was a child, my dad used to give classes on how to give IQ tests to little kids. My brother and I used to help him with his demonstrations. I don't remember a lot of details about the test or the classes, except for this one day and one question. There was a set of questions where Dad would read a story, and we had to tell what was wrong with the story. One day, as I was telling what was wrong with the story, everyone in the class started laughing. I looked at Dad to see what was wrong, and he said, "Honey, I have to ask the question first." After that, I didn't get to go with Dad to his classes anymore, and I felt really sad about it. The story was about a man who would walk downhill to the store and downhill back to his house, and the answer to the question was that he couldn't walk downhill both ways.
So today I'm trying to walk downhill both ways in the parking garage by getting off at Level 6, but somehow I made it down to Level 4, and I didn't pass my car. While I was on Level 4, I knew that my car was just above where I was, but I somehow never made it to that particular row on Level 5, and I couldn't figure out how to get there. Eventually, I found my way back to the elevator on Level 4, and I rode back up to Level 6 and tried it again, and this time I managed to walk past my car. I really think that I didn't even go down the right row the first time, not that I walked right past and missed it. But I'm not really sure. It's hard to see through the tears sometimes.
Sunday was the six-month anniversary of Daddy's death. I went to the Methodist church because I knew I couldn't handle the Assembly of God church. The people at the Methodist church are nice, and I love the organ music and the choir. I'm going back because they will have communion and the Assembly of God church won't because they don't do communion.
The choirs at the Methodist church start practicing for Christmas next week. I'd really like to start going to choir practice. They have bell choirs, too, though I've never tried that before.
I have lots of things to blog about, but I'm too tired. Getting lost is really exhausting.
I had yet another break-down today. I suppose that partly it was related to my thinking about Dad, but partly related to frustration. Though I hesitate to mention this because it sounds like a joke, I got lost in the parking garage after teaching today. I remembered walking downhill to the elevator in the morning, and I got on the elevator at Level 5. So as I was leaving, I decided to go up to Level 6 so I could walk downhill to get to my car instead of walking up the ramp from Level 5.
When I was a child, my dad used to give classes on how to give IQ tests to little kids. My brother and I used to help him with his demonstrations. I don't remember a lot of details about the test or the classes, except for this one day and one question. There was a set of questions where Dad would read a story, and we had to tell what was wrong with the story. One day, as I was telling what was wrong with the story, everyone in the class started laughing. I looked at Dad to see what was wrong, and he said, "Honey, I have to ask the question first." After that, I didn't get to go with Dad to his classes anymore, and I felt really sad about it. The story was about a man who would walk downhill to the store and downhill back to his house, and the answer to the question was that he couldn't walk downhill both ways.
So today I'm trying to walk downhill both ways in the parking garage by getting off at Level 6, but somehow I made it down to Level 4, and I didn't pass my car. While I was on Level 4, I knew that my car was just above where I was, but I somehow never made it to that particular row on Level 5, and I couldn't figure out how to get there. Eventually, I found my way back to the elevator on Level 4, and I rode back up to Level 6 and tried it again, and this time I managed to walk past my car. I really think that I didn't even go down the right row the first time, not that I walked right past and missed it. But I'm not really sure. It's hard to see through the tears sometimes.
Sunday was the six-month anniversary of Daddy's death. I went to the Methodist church because I knew I couldn't handle the Assembly of God church. The people at the Methodist church are nice, and I love the organ music and the choir. I'm going back because they will have communion and the Assembly of God church won't because they don't do communion.
The choirs at the Methodist church start practicing for Christmas next week. I'd really like to start going to choir practice. They have bell choirs, too, though I've never tried that before.
I have lots of things to blog about, but I'm too tired. Getting lost is really exhausting.
29 September, 2007
19 September, 2007
Avast, me mateys!
Today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day. If you search for Luxembourg in the pictures on their website, you can still find our pirate celebration from Luxembourg.
07 September, 2007
French lessons
My best friend in high school has a mom who is an English professor. They named their dog D'Artagnan. Not only did I have no idea of how to pronounce something that was French, I also had no idea who D'Artagnan was named for or what book it came from. Fran encouraged me to read The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas, especially since Richard Chamberlain was in the movie version. So I read it, and I eventually even saw that version of the movie. I liked the story, but at the time, I had no idea of where the places mentioned were, or how to pronounce any of the names, and I didn't understand any of the Latin or French that made it's way into the book. So many of the men seemed so silly to risk so much for a woman.
Now that I'm an adult, I still think it's silly that men would risk so much for another man's wife, but I understand everything so much better now.
I've been reading scholarly books about the history of French love poetry, and how it relates to other works in literature, like Dante's Divine Comedy. Understanding more about the tradition of French romance literature helped me understand more of the motives of the men in the story. Understanding more the layout of Paris, France, and England helped me understand the geography of the story more. I know enough French to be able to pronounce the names, and I know enough Latin to translate when Aramis speaks in Latin. It had been long enough ago that I had forgotten the plot, for the most part, so though I knew somewhat who was going to survive until the end of the story, I was genuinely surprised by some of the plot twists.
The pace is quick, and dialog and characters really charming and funny. It's easy to see why Alexandre Dumas is such a renowned author all over the world.
I've been listening to my French lesson CD's again now that I have a long car ride into work. It's nice to be working on my French again, even though I don't have anyone to practice with me here in Tennessee. I'm hoping to someday be brave enough to try to read Dumas in French.
ttfn
Now that I'm an adult, I still think it's silly that men would risk so much for another man's wife, but I understand everything so much better now.
I've been reading scholarly books about the history of French love poetry, and how it relates to other works in literature, like Dante's Divine Comedy. Understanding more about the tradition of French romance literature helped me understand more of the motives of the men in the story. Understanding more the layout of Paris, France, and England helped me understand the geography of the story more. I know enough French to be able to pronounce the names, and I know enough Latin to translate when Aramis speaks in Latin. It had been long enough ago that I had forgotten the plot, for the most part, so though I knew somewhat who was going to survive until the end of the story, I was genuinely surprised by some of the plot twists.
The pace is quick, and dialog and characters really charming and funny. It's easy to see why Alexandre Dumas is such a renowned author all over the world.
I've been listening to my French lesson CD's again now that I have a long car ride into work. It's nice to be working on my French again, even though I don't have anyone to practice with me here in Tennessee. I'm hoping to someday be brave enough to try to read Dumas in French.
ttfn
06 September, 2007
An anniversary
Today is the 18 month anniversary of the day I fell and broke my leg. To celebrate, I did aerobics Tuesday night with the girls, and I've been on my feet most Tuesdays and Thursdays, and it's really humid today, so my ankle is really stiff. But even on stiff days, it's not so bad. And, as all my doctors tell me, all my scars are better than ankle tattoos.
31 August, 2007
Late Nights
I haven't been blogging much lately. I suppose in a lot of ways I've just been too overwhelmed.
My new teaching job is going well. Thursday was the first day of formulas, and I had several positive comments from the students, so that was nice.
I had a paper due yesterday at midnight, and it didn't occur to me until 10:50 PM that they meant midnight Eastern time, so I had about 10 minutes to get logged onto the system and get my paper in. I checked on it today, and it seems to be OK. I hate it when I put things off until the last minute, but my life has just been so crazy this week.
I had a really rough night last night, after I sent my paper in, and I realized today that yesterday was the 5-month anniversary of Daddy's death. I think that I knew it in my heart even though I had lost track of the days with my head. This coming Sunday would have been my parents' 45th wedding anniversary, so I know my mom is not going to have a good weekend, but I don't think there is anything that I could do to help. I'm trying to convince Darin to take the blond girls to their church on Sunday so that I can go to the "organ church" instead. I think Rachel wants to come with me and see the organ. My mom and I went to this church instead of the kids' church on Sunday. I really felt the presence of God there, I really enjoyed the service, and the people in Sunday school were very nice.
Now that things are settling down into a "new normal," I will try to get back on the computer again and blog more.
ttfn
My new teaching job is going well. Thursday was the first day of formulas, and I had several positive comments from the students, so that was nice.
I had a paper due yesterday at midnight, and it didn't occur to me until 10:50 PM that they meant midnight Eastern time, so I had about 10 minutes to get logged onto the system and get my paper in. I checked on it today, and it seems to be OK. I hate it when I put things off until the last minute, but my life has just been so crazy this week.
I had a really rough night last night, after I sent my paper in, and I realized today that yesterday was the 5-month anniversary of Daddy's death. I think that I knew it in my heart even though I had lost track of the days with my head. This coming Sunday would have been my parents' 45th wedding anniversary, so I know my mom is not going to have a good weekend, but I don't think there is anything that I could do to help. I'm trying to convince Darin to take the blond girls to their church on Sunday so that I can go to the "organ church" instead. I think Rachel wants to come with me and see the organ. My mom and I went to this church instead of the kids' church on Sunday. I really felt the presence of God there, I really enjoyed the service, and the people in Sunday school were very nice.
Now that things are settling down into a "new normal," I will try to get back on the computer again and blog more.
ttfn
16 August, 2007
Elvis RIP
I can't believe it's been 30 years.
I remember the day Elvis died.
In the summer of 1977, we left South Dakota and moved to Tennessee. On the morning of June 11, I remember watching the morning news as the movers came to load the moving van. James Earl Ray (the man who shot Martin Luther King, Jr.) had just escaped from from Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary in East Tennessee. It didn't bother me so much that a killer was loose. I figured that he was important enough that the police and FBI would catch him again. But the reporter said that he was in the "snake-infested hills of East Tennessee." I remember looking at my dad and saying, "Do we really have to move there?"
My parents had tried to find a house for us, but with no success, so we moved from a three-bedroom single-family house in South Dakota into a two-bedroom apartment on the top of one of those snake-infested hills in East Tennessee. There were six of us in those days: Mom, Dad, me, my two brothers, and our wonderful dog Cuddles. I think the boys shared a bedroom, or maybe my youngest brother slept in Mom and Dad's room. I slept on the couch in the living room.
On the day Elvis died, it seemed like the world was going to end. I don't think I had ever heard such wailing in my life. I knew who Elvis was, and I'd heard his songs, but I had never been to Graceland, or anything like that, and I had no idea that other people were so crazy about him. I'm sure that it wasn't such a big deal back in South Dakota. The mom in the family across the hall from us went to bed for weeks when Elvis died. She was too grief-stricken to do anything. Her husband would come by our apartment and ask my mom questions on how to cook things like hot dogs. He was afraid to ask his wife.
I remember being so stressed about having to go to a new school, and not knowing if I would fit in, and wondering if I was ever going to get enough sleep at night in that apartment.
There are several events I remember in my life. I'm too young to remember when President Kennedy got shot, but I do remember when Nixon resigned. I remember when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded after take-off and when the Columbia exploded over Texas. I remember when the World Trade Center Towers fell and the sound of the plane hitting the Pentagon that day. And I remember the eerie sound of screaming when Elvis died.
I remember the day Elvis died.
In the summer of 1977, we left South Dakota and moved to Tennessee. On the morning of June 11, I remember watching the morning news as the movers came to load the moving van. James Earl Ray (the man who shot Martin Luther King, Jr.) had just escaped from from Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary in East Tennessee. It didn't bother me so much that a killer was loose. I figured that he was important enough that the police and FBI would catch him again. But the reporter said that he was in the "snake-infested hills of East Tennessee." I remember looking at my dad and saying, "Do we really have to move there?"
My parents had tried to find a house for us, but with no success, so we moved from a three-bedroom single-family house in South Dakota into a two-bedroom apartment on the top of one of those snake-infested hills in East Tennessee. There were six of us in those days: Mom, Dad, me, my two brothers, and our wonderful dog Cuddles. I think the boys shared a bedroom, or maybe my youngest brother slept in Mom and Dad's room. I slept on the couch in the living room.
On the day Elvis died, it seemed like the world was going to end. I don't think I had ever heard such wailing in my life. I knew who Elvis was, and I'd heard his songs, but I had never been to Graceland, or anything like that, and I had no idea that other people were so crazy about him. I'm sure that it wasn't such a big deal back in South Dakota. The mom in the family across the hall from us went to bed for weeks when Elvis died. She was too grief-stricken to do anything. Her husband would come by our apartment and ask my mom questions on how to cook things like hot dogs. He was afraid to ask his wife.
I remember being so stressed about having to go to a new school, and not knowing if I would fit in, and wondering if I was ever going to get enough sleep at night in that apartment.
There are several events I remember in my life. I'm too young to remember when President Kennedy got shot, but I do remember when Nixon resigned. I remember when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded after take-off and when the Columbia exploded over Texas. I remember when the World Trade Center Towers fell and the sound of the plane hitting the Pentagon that day. And I remember the eerie sound of screaming when Elvis died.
31 July, 2007
29 July, 2007
Lessons in Calmness from my Sunday school teacher
Some of you may have gotten this email already, or seen it on another blog, but I wanted to share it here, too.
I got this email from my Sunday school teacher:
We have half a bag of Oreos in the house, but no alcohol and no old Prozac prescription. We did have half a can of spray-on whipped cream that we put on our cookies and/or bananas this evening. I don't think we're feeling as good as the person who wrote that original email.
And I think that Dr. Phil is wrong. I'm not stressed about the projects I haven't finished. I just keep plugging away, and I know that I'll get there some day, or not. It's not a big deal. The key to calmness in my life is to keep Darin from starting any new projects, especially home improvement projects like he was doing in Virginia (knocking down walls, etc).
ttfn
I got this email from my Sunday school teacher:
I am passing this on to you because it definitely works and we could all use a little more calmness in our lives. By following simple advice heard on the Dr. Phil show, you too can find inner peace.
Dr Phil proclaimed, "The way to achieve inner peace is to finish all the things you have started and have never finished." So, I looked around my house to see all the things I started and hadn't finished, and before leaving the house this morning, I finished off a bottle of Merlot, a bottle of Zinfandel, a bottle of Bailey's Irish Cream, a bottle of Kahlua, a package of Oreos, the remainder of my old Prozac prescription, the rest of the cheesecake, some Doritos, and a box of chocolates.
You have no idea how freaking good I feel right now. Please pass this on to those whom you think might be in need of some calmness in their lives.
We have half a bag of Oreos in the house, but no alcohol and no old Prozac prescription. We did have half a can of spray-on whipped cream that we put on our cookies and/or bananas this evening. I don't think we're feeling as good as the person who wrote that original email.
And I think that Dr. Phil is wrong. I'm not stressed about the projects I haven't finished. I just keep plugging away, and I know that I'll get there some day, or not. It's not a big deal. The key to calmness in my life is to keep Darin from starting any new projects, especially home improvement projects like he was doing in Virginia (knocking down walls, etc).
ttfn
26 July, 2007
Visiting Clergy
So I had my very first mammogram this week at the age of 42 and a half. Yes, I know, a bit behind schedule.
My appointment was at the "outpatient diagnostics center" at a local hospital. I had never been a patient at that hospital before, and I knew they would need me to fill out some forms. One form was specifically for the test that day, but the other form was for their records because I was a new patient. The last two questions on the form:
* Would you like visitors? Yes No
* Would you like a visit from a member of the clergy? Yes No
Remember, I'm there for a mammogram. No, I don't really want visitors, and I think that I would especially not like a visit from a member of the clergy. However, I don't want to seem anti-social. I mean, what if, God forbid, I get into a car accident in the future and end up in the hospital?
I left the last two questions blank.
My appointment was at the "outpatient diagnostics center" at a local hospital. I had never been a patient at that hospital before, and I knew they would need me to fill out some forms. One form was specifically for the test that day, but the other form was for their records because I was a new patient. The last two questions on the form:
* Would you like visitors? Yes No
* Would you like a visit from a member of the clergy? Yes No
Remember, I'm there for a mammogram. No, I don't really want visitors, and I think that I would especially not like a visit from a member of the clergy. However, I don't want to seem anti-social. I mean, what if, God forbid, I get into a car accident in the future and end up in the hospital?
I left the last two questions blank.
15 July, 2007
Honor Star, Honor Friend Weekend
Our church has something called Missionettes, where girls complete different studies for badges or charms. It's like a Christian version of Girl Scouts.
Today, my youngest girl was crowned as an Honor Star and my oldest girl was crowned as an Honor Friend. One great thing about being back in Tennessee was that my mom, brother, sister, and niece came to our house to help us celebrate the weekend.
To be an Honor Star, a girl must complete at least 27 badges. (Each badge has four lessons, with a project and a memory verse, and can be completed in about a month.) She must also read the entire New Testament in the three years she's in Stars. She must learn the Statement of Faith, the Lord's Prayer, write an essay on Integrity, and memorize a set of questions and answers about healing, the Holy Spirit, and End-time Events. At the end of the three years, she takes a written test on everything they've learned, including the 27 memory verses. My youngest daughter had the highest score in her group of five Honor Stars.
An Honor Star receives a crown, a sash, and an Honor Star medal during the ceremony. My daughter also received a Bronze Medal because she is an Honor Daisy, Honor Prim, and an Honor Star.
To be an Honor Friend, a girl must complete at least 18 units. (Each unit has six lessons, with a project and memory verse, so they take about six weeks to complete.) She must also read the entire Bible, both Old and New Testament, in the three years she's in the Friends Club. At the end of the three years, she must take a written test on the Statement of Faith and the 18 memory verses. My oldest daughter scored a perfect 100% on her test.
An Honor Friend receives a ring with a butterfly and a purple graduation cord during the ceremony. My daughter also received a Silver Medal because she is an Honor Daisy, Honor Prim, Honor Star, and now an Honor Friend. She was the first Honor Friend they had ever had at that church, and so was also their first Silver Medalist.
I'm so proud of my girls, and they were so happy they could share the weekend with my family.
ttfn
Today, my youngest girl was crowned as an Honor Star and my oldest girl was crowned as an Honor Friend. One great thing about being back in Tennessee was that my mom, brother, sister, and niece came to our house to help us celebrate the weekend.
To be an Honor Star, a girl must complete at least 27 badges. (Each badge has four lessons, with a project and a memory verse, and can be completed in about a month.) She must also read the entire New Testament in the three years she's in Stars. She must learn the Statement of Faith, the Lord's Prayer, write an essay on Integrity, and memorize a set of questions and answers about healing, the Holy Spirit, and End-time Events. At the end of the three years, she takes a written test on everything they've learned, including the 27 memory verses. My youngest daughter had the highest score in her group of five Honor Stars.
An Honor Star receives a crown, a sash, and an Honor Star medal during the ceremony. My daughter also received a Bronze Medal because she is an Honor Daisy, Honor Prim, and an Honor Star.
To be an Honor Friend, a girl must complete at least 18 units. (Each unit has six lessons, with a project and memory verse, so they take about six weeks to complete.) She must also read the entire Bible, both Old and New Testament, in the three years she's in the Friends Club. At the end of the three years, she must take a written test on the Statement of Faith and the 18 memory verses. My oldest daughter scored a perfect 100% on her test.
An Honor Friend receives a ring with a butterfly and a purple graduation cord during the ceremony. My daughter also received a Silver Medal because she is an Honor Daisy, Honor Prim, Honor Star, and now an Honor Friend. She was the first Honor Friend they had ever had at that church, and so was also their first Silver Medalist.
I'm so proud of my girls, and they were so happy they could share the weekend with my family.
ttfn
04 July, 2007
Independence Day 2007
The girls wanted to go to downtown Nashville again for Independence Day. Some of the people on the program for the concert were Taylor Swift, who is one of the girls' new favorite singers, and Rodney Adkins, who the girls have liked for a little while now. Rodney Adkins has a song called "If You're Goin' Through Hell", and the kids thought that the words were particularly appropriate to us living in Luxembourg: "If you're goin' through Hell, keep on goin', don't slow down, if you're scared don't show it. You might get out before the devil even knows you're there."
We got there early this year, and some of us went to the Charlie Daniels museum, and some of us went on the free bungy jumping ride.
The show started with the color guard and National Anthem. I still can't sing the "Star-Spangled Banner" without crying. I was crying through the fireworks, too. Even "Stars and Stripes Forever" makes me cry. I'm so happy to be back in the United States of America.
God bless the U.S.A.!
We got there early this year, and some of us went to the Charlie Daniels museum, and some of us went on the free bungy jumping ride.
The show started with the color guard and National Anthem. I still can't sing the "Star-Spangled Banner" without crying. I was crying through the fireworks, too. Even "Stars and Stripes Forever" makes me cry. I'm so happy to be back in the United States of America.
God bless the U.S.A.!
30 June, 2007
We are back!
We are back from Montreal and my conference. Rachel did a great job of navigating, even when the signs were in French. We also had a wonderful time in the Boston area, going both to Plymouth and to Lexington and Concord.
Rachel's books for high school came yesterday, and she went into town to a movie, so we're going to look through them all today. Yet another thing to get organized.
Rachel's books for high school came yesterday, and she went into town to a movie, so we're going to look through them all today. Yet another thing to get organized.
02 June, 2007
Nothing to do but blog, clean, and relax
So, school is over for the 2006-2007 school year. My oldest daughter finished her testing for placement into her high school for next school year. My slides are finished for the June conference, and by the end of the day today, I should have all the arrangements and reservations made for the trip. On Monday, the two older girls go to Youth Camp with the church.
So next week I'll have no pressing deadlines, and a week to hang out with my baby. I'm feeling a bit at a loss. It's been so long since we haven't had school hanging over our heads. I'm trying to decide if we should take on a big project (like sewing a dress) or a slightly smaller project (like working on scrapbooks together). I'm looking forward to some quality time with my youngest daughter, and I don't want us to be stressed out.
Today is my day to clean up the living room, and I have some cleaning to do in the kitchen today, too. But hopefully, I'll have some time to work on my scrapbooks today.
I also had a chance to watch some rented DVDs. We just finished How the West Was Won. I had forgotten how much I love the score to that movie. I remember seeing that movie when I was really little. Even as a little kid, I was impressed by John Wayne fighting the Civil War and the buffalo stampede. The movie reminded me so much of my dad. All through the movie, I kept thinking, "My dad loved this part." Especially during the buffalo stampede. They used real buffalo back then, in 1962. I'm not sure they could do that now and claim that no animals were injured. I'm really glad we rented this movie. It brought back a lot of memories.
ttfn
So next week I'll have no pressing deadlines, and a week to hang out with my baby. I'm feeling a bit at a loss. It's been so long since we haven't had school hanging over our heads. I'm trying to decide if we should take on a big project (like sewing a dress) or a slightly smaller project (like working on scrapbooks together). I'm looking forward to some quality time with my youngest daughter, and I don't want us to be stressed out.
Today is my day to clean up the living room, and I have some cleaning to do in the kitchen today, too. But hopefully, I'll have some time to work on my scrapbooks today.
I also had a chance to watch some rented DVDs. We just finished How the West Was Won. I had forgotten how much I love the score to that movie. I remember seeing that movie when I was really little. Even as a little kid, I was impressed by John Wayne fighting the Civil War and the buffalo stampede. The movie reminded me so much of my dad. All through the movie, I kept thinking, "My dad loved this part." Especially during the buffalo stampede. They used real buffalo back then, in 1962. I'm not sure they could do that now and claim that no animals were injured. I'm really glad we rented this movie. It brought back a lot of memories.
ttfn
01 June, 2007
Language Issues in Tennessee
One of the sections of my daughter's recent achievement test was a True/False section on grammar. The instructions said they were going to give her some sentences, and if they were written in "standard English", then she should mark True, and if they weren't in "standard English", then mark False. She looked at me and asked, "Your standard English or Dad's standard English?" I told her to go with Darin's.
At one point during the test she laughed and said, "I think I've heard you say this before, Mom." And then she marked it False.
On a mildly related note, Darin was calling BCBS of Alabama to ask about a claim of mine. It was one of those answering services where you have to talk to the computer. He kept saying "Yes" over and over. The computer just couldn't understand him. After about five times, he said "Ye-es," making it a two-syllable word. That time it understood him. He eventually gave up trying to talk to that computer and kept saying "Customer Service" over and over until he finally got to talk to a real person.
ttfn
At one point during the test she laughed and said, "I think I've heard you say this before, Mom." And then she marked it False.
On a mildly related note, Darin was calling BCBS of Alabama to ask about a claim of mine. It was one of those answering services where you have to talk to the computer. He kept saying "Yes" over and over. The computer just couldn't understand him. After about five times, he said "Ye-es," making it a two-syllable word. That time it understood him. He eventually gave up trying to talk to that computer and kept saying "Customer Service" over and over until he finally got to talk to a real person.
ttfn
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