Wednesday, May 28, 2008

what's your science project?

The last science project that I got to "mother" was about a certain mathematical pattern found naturally occurring in nature. I got to paint pine cones and pineapples.

The one before that had hot wheels and hot wheel tracks.

In my opinion, this science project should earn a full ride scholarship

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

tagged

I was tagged by Mid-Life Rookie. Good thing she told me herself since Bloglines didn't.

Rules:
The rules of the game get posted at the beginning. Each player answers the questions about himself or herself. At the end of the post, the player then tags five people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Yadayadayada


Ten years ago: I was preparing to move to a small country two-point charge and trying to find childcare for a 4 year old and 1 year old. Everything worked out much better than anyone realistically thought it would. Which tells me, God had something to do with it.

Five things on today's "to do" list: 1) Get SportsQueen out of school early to take her to an appointment with regular pediatrician's clinic to confirm the "mono" diagnosis of the "doc-in-a-box." 2) Call and confirm volunteers for summer camp. 3) Pre-register SportsQueen for accelerated summer school. 4) Purchase more inhaler spacers for the Entertainer (oh shoot, that's now on tomorrow's list). 5) Give pep talk to lay person who is organizing Emmaus gathering at her church.

Things I'd do if I was a billionaire: Buy a house. Pay for someone to tend to the needs of the house particularly the cleaning part. Pay for my kids' higher education. Help my sister have enough money/resources to be the stay at home mom she really wants to be. Create an endowment to fund vacations for single clergy women (particularly ones with kids at home) to fun places. Help Heifer International. Travel to lots of places I haven't been and some I have.

Three bad habits: procrastination, thinking I don't need any help, not using the terrific organizational skills I have to put my office in order

Five places I've lived: the Ozarks, the home of Amelia Earhart, down the road from Arrowhead Stadium, in the country where the nearest grocery store was 25 miles away, in the largest city in the US with no public transportation

Five jobs I've had: lifeguard, temporary for USPS, teller, secretary, pastor

Five people I'm tagging: Cheesehead, Ruby, Grace by the Sea, Verde, God Guuurrrlll

well said

When Robert Louis Stephenson, racked by tuberculosis, was nearing the end of his life, his wife came in one morning and said, "I suppose in spite of all your trouble, you will tell me again that it is a beautiful day."

The great novelist answered, "Yes, my dear. I refuse to let that row of medicine bottles be the circumference of my horizon."

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

best wedding story I've heard in a long time

Posted on PRCL by Dawn Dickerson

"My florist was part of a wedding where the invitation read something like, "Please refrain from wearing dark or bold colours to the ceremony. Examples of acceptable colours are taupe, cream, beige, sage " etc.

So florist, who is at the wedding hanging out in the background with the wedding planner is looking out at this well co-ordinated and very bland congregation and notices an older woman with short FLAMING red dyed hair. So, he turns to the planner and asks, 'Who is that angel with the beautiful hair?!'

The planner replied, 'That is Great Aunt Ruth. Great Aunt Ruth is 92 years old and thought she would not need to add anything else to her wardrobe for the rest of her life. She was looking forward to wearing her favourite red dress when she got the invitation and had to buy a new outfit. So, she bought the outfit and dyed her hair the colour of the dress she wanted to wear.'"

the last class

According to the online grade book for the last class for PhD:
points earned: 1081
percentage: 88.244897959183673469387755102041 %
letter grade posted: A
building relationships with professors (aka being a teacher's pet): priceless

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

update (otherwise known as procrastinating)

I am almost finished with the paperwork (Is it still called paperwork if it is all electronic? Are they still papers if you never print them?) required for my last doctoral class. I have a system that works well for me most of the time: sit on the end of the couch closest to the lamp, prop feet up on coffee table, use the rest of the couch as a desk, strategically place reference books on the floor, and, turn on tv.

I managed to crank out some serious verbiage today with this system.

But it's quite humid here and The Entertainer is having a smidge trouble breathing so she planted herself on the other end of the couch for a breathing treatment. She then had the audacity to fall asleep! Nevermind that it was already well past her bedtime -- she's on MY DESK SPACE!!!

I'm gonna have to move my system to my bed. Where I may very well fall asleep, instead of cranking out the last bit of required verbiage.

some people

Saturday, May 03, 2008

It's not what you know, it's who you know

Now that the funeral service is all over, let me say it was an adventure finding a pianist.

Our fabulous pianist was already committed to rehearsals accompanying students practicing for solo competition. Many other capable pianists were involved in a piano contest at the local university. After talking to our pianist, from 9:15 am to about 2:00 pm, I called 5 methodist churches, 1 Christian (Disciples of Christ) pastor, 1 Presbyterian elder (who happens to teach piano to the Entertainer), Mid-Life Rookie, multiple musicians whose numbers I received as possible suggestions, and one of my best friends that I've known for 14 years who suggested another pianist that I've known for 15 years. I had already called her but my friend said, "I'll call her. She'll call you back in a minute." And she did and she did.

We worked together on staff all those years ago. So I had no worries about her skill or her flexibility. And she played and sang. As a matter of fact, she's the one that suggested the songs -- that were perfect. And, before the service, when I said, the other job that you didn't know you had is to pray that I don't say something stupid. She said, "You won't. You'll be fabulous. Well, here ..." and she grabbed my hand and prayed right then and there.

Doubly blessed
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