Musings of An Odd Eel

On Vox: The past month

Tue, 10 Apr 2007 23:28:50 GMT

Time flies.I've been spending a lot of time on Revish - something I've mentioned here before. They opened to the public a little over a week ago. When we got back from our trip to Savannah I found a Revishing...

» Read more on Vox

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 15:02:32 GMT

I'm heading out today and tomorrow to learn about the changes in Section 508 at a conference in Washington, DC. I knew just about all there was to know about web accessibility shortly before and after June 2001 when the law was enacted, but after leaving the full-time workforce, didn't continue my education in that area. While I've done a few accessibility evaluations in the past few years, I sorely need a refresher and update. I've tried to keep up with changes by reading articles and being on email lists devoted to accessibility, but it is sometimes good to go somewhere in person to see what's new.

I am hoping, also to learn a little about the non-web aspect of the law. I recently had to turn down a job that involved telecommunications - making sure a government entity's phone and voice mail system was accessible to the deaf and hard of hearing. It seemed straightforward, until the folks making he product were challenged to create a product that integrated TTY (or a similar accessible mode of communication) into the system instead of providing a way for it to be added when necessary. I know so little about that aspect of section 508 that it would have been unfair to tell them I could do it. Needless to say, the consulting company that referred me has not contacted me since.

A while back Vox had a qotd about dream jobs. I didn't answer it because I really didn't know what my dream job is. It changes based on my mood. I'd love to get back into teaching, but not special education this time. I'd like to do what I trained to do at the end of the last century - educational technology. I fear, however, that by not having taught in that field, set myself up for ending up at McDonalds.

I still think I have a lot to offer a school system. I know a lot about teaching with technology, and I've kept up-to-date with emerging technologies. I also know a lot about web accessibility, and because schools are now embracing the fact that their online presences must be accessible to all, I'd make a decent candidate to work both with online access and teaching teachers how to use technology in their classrooms and in their online interactions with parents.

With my youngest going into high school next year, I think it is time to think about full time, away from home, work again. I'll need to see what's out there and see if I can work my way back into the education field. I'd love to work for the school district my kids are in for several reasons but location being a major factor.

I applied and even interviewed in this district many years ago, but the interview was the worst ever. I was applying for a special education position but the woman interviewing me never asked about my special education background. She was taking over for the special education administrator who was out of he building on an emergency or something. The woman interviewing me was the head of technology and media. Because I'd been using technology in my special ed classroom I, at first, thought this was a good thing, especially when she asked how I used technology in the classroom.

I explained how I connected the computers to the televisions and used the Internet for various lessons (This was 1997, mind you). When our entire school had made pin-hole viewers to see the solar eclipse and the day of the eclipse turned out rainy and cloudy, my students got to see it online from a sunny location (and the other teachers in the school begged me to hook up their televisions to their computers after that day). When my kids learned about butterflies and wrote essays on the life cycle of the painted lady butterfly, they were able to read essays other students wrote in different parts of the country.

She then said, "Uh-ha what other technologies have you used?"

I explained how I used television and video discs (we had a program called Windows on Science) to illustrate science lessons seamlessly because I had a bar-code reader that played clips from video-discs even if I was across the room. I'd litter my lesson plans with the bar-codes for the particular clips and when it was time, swipe the bar-codes and the clips would play.

I explained how I used the word processing program on our Macs to teach the students with eye-hand coordination problems to type and how their creative writing improved when they didn't have the burden of writing by long-hand as a barrier.

I told her how I'd used a spreadsheet program to teach percentages and graphs.

After I was finished, she looked at me and said. "But don't you use an overhead projector?"

Needless to say, I didn't get the job.

So, today is my first step in getting back into the world of work.

A Fathers Memorial to a Fallen Marine

Wed, 17 May 2006 20:55:27 GMT

Our neighbor lost his son in Iraq a week ago. Here is his tribute to his son:

Alex

Very Petty and Nasty Post

Wed, 28 Sep 2005 13:55:43 GMT

I received an email today that made me want to scream, cry, tear my hair out and send poisonous emails to several people. So I'm blogging it instead.

One of the hats I wear as a school volunteer is to administer a PTA database that stores information for the school directory among other things. I've spent several weeks of full days entering/deleting/changing information in addition to fielding email requests in response to a number of emails I have sent encouraging parents to check their information in the database. The folder I set up for the database comment emails holds over 200 emails, and shows that I responded to more than half of them. It is hard to explain in writing how much work and time and energy I have put into this project.

There were two of us working with this, but I am certain I did most of the work so far. The other volunteer had a family crisis and was unable to help for a week. She also works full time and could only help evenings and weekends. Unfortunately the database is not set up so the parents can actually change their own info. They need to suggest changes in a form field and the directory volunteers do the data entry. I don't know why it was set up this way, but cannot change it.

A bug was found in the database and we lost several parent comments and changes that were made. Normally I would have let the directory volunteers do the majority of the work, but because of the problems that were encountering I somehow felt responsible. There are two directory volunteers (not counting me) and one of them chose to do the ads instead of the database entry. She also seems to be taking the lead.

So, I've put in more than 100 hours in the past month and I think that is a low estimate. I've put everything else, including making money, on hold. The house is a mess, I've given up work from my real job that I could have done and I've not done things for or with the family because I've been working on the database instead.

So, the email. The directory volunteer that is taking the lead sent the following email out today:

Hi all-

Wendy and I wanted to update you on where the directory stands:

(1) The database has been completely worked over by Wendy four times (at
last count!) Data has been entered, reentered, checked, rechecked, and
still we don't feel confident that this list is complete or accurate. Every
time we go into the database, there are problems to address.

It would be useful to have two or three volunteers go through the entire
list on the database-- checking against paper requests, checking the changed
online records. We will provide these volunteers with emailed and paper
requests. It would also be useful to have at least one person at this point
editing a printout of the database in "directory form," looking for
abnormalities or weird references, and then making corrections to the
masterbase. I could email this person my download which I've put into 9
point type (just as easy to read as 10 point, and saves the PTSA a few
bucks).

There are some universal changes that need to be made by Dona or someone
more familiar with systems than me (ie. how to get rid of all the 301 area
codes).

There are some decisions to be made -- ie. what do you do if someone doesn't
want their phone or address published? Just list the student's name? Just
list the student's name and a parent's email? What do you do if a parent
wants more than 1 email address for themselves, and the ex wants another
email address? Do we limit each parent to one published email?

We need at least one volunteer to check this database list against Pyle's
list of students. I have requested a copy from Ms. Baran, who has turned
over my request to Ms. Vogel. Ms. Baran says this request may not be
possible. I have explained that last year's directory had 82 pages of
students. This year's directory currently has 64 pages (comparing both in
10 pt type). This year's may be a little longer than that when properly
formatted, but there's still a big discrepancy when you consider that there
are 1,380 students enrolled this year. I believe that's slightly more than
last year.

(2) We continue to struggle to get the information for the front pages of
the directory. Since the Pyle office still has not given us the Principal's
Committees and the members of each, Wendy has had to solicit this info from
individuals on the committees in a piecemeal fashion. I was in touch with
the office today trying to pick up the last piece of the School Staff
list -- the Support Staff. So far, we haven't been able to get that, but
Ms. Baran believes it's either in Ms. Vogel's computer or printed on the
back of one of the other staff lists. I've offered to have them fax or
email it to me, whatever's easiest for them.

(3) The ads are compiled. Last Thursday at his request I gave Jay my memory
stick with the ads and instructions for sizing and other fine tuning. Jay,
please let us know where that work stands, or if you anticipate additional
costs in making the ads camera-ready. I've obtained scanned copies of most
of the ads that were not in digital form. Jay, you said you have scanning
capability, so if you could scan the Crane Homes ad from last year's
directory, that would be great. I think that's the last ad that requires
scanning.

(4) I've passed along my three print estimates to Jay (last year's printer /
a past year's printer and also Whitman parent / a new printer and also Pyle
parent). I understand Jay is now exploring additional print options.

(5) Parents are understandably calling the Pyle office asking when the
student directory will be out. Should we put out a note on Pylenet
explaining that we're experiencing some unforseen problems with the student
database this year? Can we reasonably assure parents they will receive
their directories by Halloween? We should figure in 3 weeks for printing.

Wendy, if I've forgotten anything crucial, please chime in.

Thanks everyone!

Adrienne

Here is my question. Where am I mentioned in that paragraph? Did I do nothing? Were my over 100 hours of work unimportant?

Later I got another email, this time from one of the PTSA co-presidents who was cced on the above email:

Hi all-

Our directory co-chairs, Wendy and Adrienne have had a rough go of things lately -- our
database has failed several times -- and are in need of
assistance. If you are able to lend a hand, please contact
Adrienne directly at email deleted for privacy.

It would be useful to have two or three volunteers go through
the entire list on the database-- checking against paper
requests, checking the changed online records. We will provide
these volunteers with emailed and paper requests. It would
also be useful to have at least one person at this point editing a
printout of the database in "directory form," looking for
abnormalities or weird references, and then making corrections
to the masterbase. I could email this person my download
which I've put into 9 point type (just as easy to read as 10
point, and saves the PTSA a few bucks).

We need at least one volunteer to check this database list
against Pyle's list of students. This year's directory currently
has 64 pages (comparing both in 10 pt type). This year's may
be a little longer than that when properly formatted, but there's
still a big discrepancy when you consider that there are 1,380
students enrolled this year. I believe that's slightly more than
last year.

Again, where is my name? Where is it written that I've put in a lot of time?

Another email just came in from the other co-president:

Hi Adrienne -- Many thanks to you and Wendy for tackling what has become a very big and difficult job. I am happy to help do whatever editing of data is necessary in the next few days, or the cross checking against the student list. Karen and I will talk and answer your other questions in more detail later today. We'll also work on getting the student list and the staff info from the administration.

Um. No thanks for me?

I'm not volunteering for any more of this crap. I'm giving up the email list and the database at the end of the year.

Last year at the first PTSA meeting that I was required to attend the two co-presidents thanked the directory people and even though I had put in a lot of work helping out, got no thanks at all. Nor have I ever heard or seen a thank you, for doing the email list from the powers that be.

I know I should just swallow my pride and get on with life. I know I am being petty.

All I want is some recognition for the work I have put in. Is that too much to ask?

Neil Gaiman, again

Wed, 28 Sep 2005 12:12:24 GMT

Living in the DC area, I was lucky in that Neil Gaiman had two scheduled events nearby on his book tour for Anansi Boys. Saturday September 24th he was at the previously mentioned National Book Festival and on Sunday, September 25 he was at a Borders Books in Northern Virginia.

I arrived at the Bailey's Crossroads Borders Books sometime around 7 pm for Gaiman's 7:30 reading and bought a copy of Anansi Boys with part of the birthday money I got from my mother-in-law. I doubt she would be pleased. From the looks of the crowd, it was obvious Gaiman was a science fiction writer. Lots of black clothes, pony-tailed men and a smattering of individuals who looked like their last event that day had been the Maryland Renaissance Festival. Either that or they were dressed as characters in Gaiman's graphic novels.

puzzledance and I planned to meet at the the event so I walked around the store for a while looking for someone wearing what she said she would wear. After a while I came to the conclusion that she had been one of the lucky few who got a seat and didn't want to risk giving it up to find me and we would meet up after the reading or had not gotten back from her dance camp event yet and would either be late or be not able to come. I finally found a spot behind the other Gaiman fans, but in front of a low table against which I could lean.

Gaiman opened with a few words about what would take place that evening, chatted a bit and then began reading from his book after telling us the "story so far". Because the sound system was a little wonky and I was tired, I decided to sit on the floor instead of stand. I also thought I may have given Puzzledance an incorrect phone number so I tried to check one of my gmail accounts to see what number I gave her, but I could not figure out how to do that on my Sidekick. (although I know it can be done, having done it in the past). As I was giving up on my email, I noticed a pair of shoes pointing at me and not towards Gaiman. I looked up and saw that Puzzledance had arrived.

We listened to the reading, but I left before the signing as I was #287 and didn't want to stay that long. I hear the signing went smoothly though, but am not sorry that I left. I think I may have had a literary burn-out last weekend as I over-indulged in authors. Is such a thing possible? I also think I was intimidated by the crowd. After all, I've only read a sprinkling of Gaiman's works, although I am quite a fan of his journal. I never feel quite comfortable actually talking to authors in person as they sign their books. First of all, I think I am somehow putting them out by making them write their name. Secondly, if I really like the author, I usually say something stupid and feel stupid. So, I saved myself from the possibility of being embarrassed by myself.

Hair Mayonaise, Grins, Awe. Obsessions and a Sullen Teen

Mon, 26 Sep 2005 14:13:41 GMT

My trip to the national mall yesterday to see several of my favorite authors was better than I expected in some ways, but worse in others. I saw four of the authors I planned on seeing, but missed most of the talk of one of them because my daughter was boredtiredcoldandfeelingsick and wanted to leave. Since the festival was sharing the National Mall with a large peace demonstration, it was much more crowded than in previous years.

It was a amazing to see John Irving. I'm not sure I'd ever seen him interviewed at all before, although did read the interview he gave for Pages magazine about his newest book that I am listening to on CD. I've loved Irving's writing since the late 1970's when I read The World According to Garp before seeing the movie. After reading that, I read all of his books, and immediately devoured each new one as it was published. I've only missed out on reading a few of his books. I lost interest in his style of writing for a few years, but began reading him again with Widow For One Year. It was a pure pleasure being under the same roof (OK, tent roof) as Irving.

I really should learn that obsessions are not contagious and should not try to drag others into them. My daughter loves to read but she cares little about seeing the authors who write the books she loves. And she cares even less sitting through book talks by authors she has not read. Combine that with being hungry and tired in a very crowded place and you have a slightly sullen teenager. She was funny about it though. She refused to try to push through the mass of people while I was listening to John Irving's interview and suggested I leave my semi-prime location to stand outside with her. She text messaged me several pleas, finally stating that she was tired, hungry, cold and "about to be trampled by peace ppl". Luckily that was at the end of the interview and we both found seats for the next author, Neil Gaiman.

I first heard of Neil Gaiman during my volunteer orientation for last year's book festival but since the name was unfamiliar to me, it didn't stick. At the festival itself, my daughter saw a book in the sales tent that she had heard of and wanted to buy. The book was called Coraline, but she didn't know the author. A few weeks later, at a book store, we tried to find Coraline, but it had been sold out at that store. The sales clerk wrote the name of the book and author, Neil Gaiman, on a sticky note. At Christmastime Clare put the book on her wish list. We were able to get the recording on CD for our drive to Illinois, and we all thought it a wonderful story and well read by the author himself. Since then I have been reading Gaiman's online journal and looking forward to his book tour so I could see him for myself.

Gaiman looked thinner and frizzier than I expected him to look. He seemed tired as well, but having read his latest journal entry it was understandable. He commented on the helicopters overhead and once stopped talking to make a remark about a very loud protester outside the the fiction and fantasy tent. "He's not going to make many friends that way." He also tasked a question asker with finding the answer to her own question regarding "hair mayonnaise" and posting it to the FAQ part of his web site. As excited as I was to see Gaiman, I was left feeling let down. Must be the day after Christmas phenomena.

After eating a lunch of pasta salad, vegetarian pita sandwich, cheese pizza, apple and free water, Clare was less interested in hearing authors talk than before. She began to complain in earnest. We decided to sit in the Teens and Children's tent to hear the author. Walter Dean Meyers, before Sharon Creech. It was good we did because the rain began just as we sat down. I was glad to see that author since Creech used him as a character in one of her books.

Dean and Andrew arrived (noisily and distractingly) during Mr. Meyers' talk. Clare decided to go to a museum with Dean while Andrew loyally sat with me. We got a front row seat (albeit on the ground) for Sharon Creech's talk. The highlight of my day was when she was being introduced. I must have had a big grin on my face because as she looked out at the audience, grinning herself, her smiling eyes met and held my eyes, and her grin widened. A small connection, but one that I'll remember for a long time. She was entertaining in her presentation, calling children from the audience to play out scenes in her latest novel for kids, Replay. The only disappointment was that she said she had a wrist injury. She said she had a wrist injury two years ago too when I was helping out with the signing lines. Perhaps she has a chronic injury and can only sign one book per person, but I briefly wondered if she made it up both times.

Andrew was hungry so we headed over to the food area where he got in a very long line for a piece of over-priced pizza. I ran over to the Children's tent to see Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, but was interrupted by a text message and then a phone call from Clare who claimed we had a deal to leave at 3:30, even if it meant I could not finish listening to Ms Naylor. While I would have liked to hear what she had to say, I was fine with leaving. I'd spent an afternoon with Phyllis Reynolds Naylor when she visited my daughter's school. I got to sit near her, help her with the autographing (I got to be Shiloh that day, stamping his pawprint in the books she autographed) and talk to her about writing. I think I she was pleasantly surprised when I told her I read and enjoyed her adult novel. I sort of tired of Ms Naylor after reading some of the Alice books and being uncomfortable about some of the material in them.

The trip home was uneventful except for one line overheard on the metro. A still psyched up middle-aged protester asked a young man what language he was speaking. He replied that he was speaking Russian. They discussed his visit to the US and she remarked that "we had a pretty good meeting down there today" to which he smiled and pointed at the anti-war slogan on her t-shirt. He then asked when the big protest was taking place. She looked taken aback and said that it was today. He smiled, shook his head and asked again. "But when is the big protest?" He got on the metro at the same stop we did so I am surprised he didn't see the throngs of protesters. Or perhaps he was joking with her. I thought it was kind of funny.

Clare seemed to feel guilty for dragging me away from the last speaker and was very chatty on the way home.

Below are a few photos I shot with my sidekick. They are all very low resolution.

The tiny speck on the right of the stage is John Irving. (the seated one)

This is Neil Gaiman. I think he forgot to use his hair mayonaise.

Here is Sharon Creech getting ready to call up audience members to play out some
scenes from one of her books.

National Book Festival

Fri, 23 Sep 2005 15:15:30 GMT

If someone gave me a choice to spend a day among authors or a day among famous actors I'd choose the day with authors without hesitation. Tomorrow is such a day. Tomorrow there will be more than 80 published authors in Washington DC between 14th and 7th Streets on about 12 acres of land.

Tomorrow is the National Book Festival on the National Mall.

This will be the third year I've attended, and the first year I didn't volunteer. The first year - 2003 - I got to see several of my favorite authors who write for children and young adults. It was a cold damp day but I was prepared with sweaters, gloves and raingear. I was lucky enough to be working with the signing tables, so saw these men and women up close. I also heard a few during their talks. I was not brave enough to talk to any of them - most were preoccupied with signing hundreds of books. I wished I had talked to Nancy Farmer whose The Ear, the Eye and the Arm was a favorite of mine when I was a teacher. Her line was the shortest and she was free for a few moments before the end of her designated signing period. I also got to hear Avi, Jane Yolen, Sharon Creech and R. L. Stine. I was surprised that Stine was the most outgoing, but maybe I shouldn't have been so surprised.

The second year, last year, was a beautiful day, however I had a less interesting job of picking up debris and straightening chairs between authors in the Children and Children and Teen tents. I was able to hear a few interesting speakers including Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi who co-wrote the Spiderwick Chronicles. Another interesting author was Richard Peck. He happened to be reading from his book The Teacher's Funeral. During his talk he claimed to have thought up the best opening line in the world for the book he was writing: Here Lies the Librarian which comes out in January 2006.

So tomorrow I will get to hear some of my favorite authors but not have to work. Here is my schedule for tomorrow:

I'll try to get there by 10 so I can go to the pavilions and maybe pick up one of the coveted Book TV(?) bags that usually run out by noon.

I'll head over to the Fiction pavilion close to 11:30 to get in line to get a seat for John Irving's interview at 11:50. Getting a good seat for him will be great since Neil Gaiman follows him at 12:40.

I will probably try to find a bite to eat, or eat a bag lunch I brought and then head over to see Sharon Creech in the Teens tent and then Phyllis Reynolds Naylor in the Children's tent. Finally, if I still feel up to it I want to see Jon Kabat-Zin.

Sunday night I plan on going to Virginia to see Neil Gaiman once more. So I guess this will be a literary kinda weekend for me.

Pileated Woodpeckers

Sun, 11 Sep 2005 16:07:14 GMT

Went to bed late last night and didn't sleep well and got up early due to some volunteer work issues.

Decided to get some work for pay done early this morning when my husband called me upstairs to show me some "big red headed woodpeckers" in the neighbor yard. I assumed they were pileated, and was correct. What I didn't expect was to see four of them, three foraging on the lawn and one hammering on the nearby tree trunk.

I've seen several pileated woodpeckers in my life, and have seen up to two from my front porch (there used to be a dead tree kitty corner from our house where they may have lived). I had never seen four of them together though. I imagine it was a family, but I don't know the family dynamics of woodpeckers.

I pronounce pileated with a "long i", but most people pronounce it with a "short i". I once read in a Northern Wisconsin publication it should be pronounced with a "long i". Answers.com gives says both are correct:

pi le at ed (pi-'le--a-'ti(d) pronunciation also pi le ate (-i(t) adj.

It was a nice surprise on this morning of minor worries.

MIT Survey

Fri, 08 Jul 2005 13:09:49 GMT

I took MIT's survey and all I got was this banner:

You should take it too.

Proud Parents

Wed, 06 Jul 2005 02:45:22 GMT

My husband and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary this year. I thought we should do something special to celebrate being together two decades, but neither of us are planners, so, a few days before our anniversary we did not have reservations anywhere special.

This year we also had a lot of fixing up done on our main floor. All of the walls were painted, the powder room was redecorated and the screened porch was re-screened, painted and tiled. One afternoon, after clearing out redecorating detritus from our porch I thought a small table would look nice on the porch - that it would look like a small bistro. Then I thought how nice it would be to have a romantic meal at home on our anniversary. I asked my kids if they would be willing to help out and they immediately began planning the evening. I told my husband I had taken care of the reservations and it was going to be a surprise.

On June 22 my husband came home from work and went swimming with our son so my daughter and I could get things ready. She wanted to make a menu. I had a few things to prepare for the kids to serve us. (I mostly bought prepared food, but some things were made at home). I ran up and got dressed in one of my better dresses and when my husband came home he dressed to match me. The kids did a great job pretending to be sullen and lazy and sat watching TV, barely saying goodbye to us as we left for our big night. The plan was that they would fix up the porch (bringing a table from the back yard, putting two tablecloths on it, setting it, lighting candles, setting up chairs, turning on party lights we had just put up and setting out the first course). Then they would call me but let it only ring once.

I drove around town, stopping to get gas and when the phone rang, pretended I was confused as to how to get to the restaurant. I drove back behind our house, and up the side street and parked in the back. At this point my husband was confused and I said "we're here". He was surprised. Then we walked in the back way. The porch was transformed into a private cafe complete with candle light and jazz. The wait staff, dressed in black and white (their idea, and a surprise to me), greeted us and handed us our menus for the evening.

For dinner we were served cheese and pate with imported crackers, tomato basil soup, fresh green salad, grilled, skewered chicken, beef and vegetables on rice and various pastries. We also had wine, sparkling water and champagne.

During dinner we were treated to a dictionary reading and a impersonation show.

After dinner we exchanged our gifts. I was presented a music box my husband picked up for me from the Potomac Celtic Festival. With its claddagh carving on the top and "Gallway Bay" as its tune, it held special meaning to us on our anniversary. 20 years ago we visited Ireland and stayed in Gallway. I wanted a claddagh ring as my wedding ring, but we decided to get a plain band in the States, and I would get a claddagh ring in Ireland. So the carving and tune are special.

I gave my husband a ceramic ear of corn because he is from corn country and was born on a farm. Plus the traditional 20th anniversary gift is China which is a kind of ceramic.
I also gave him a box of chocolates from Balducci's whose signature chocolate is called Platinum (the modern 20th anniversary gift).
My husband also received a book called "Weird U.S." because he likes seeing weird things when we travel. His final gift was a pen with a red robot on the end. I cannot remember what it was, but it was the robot that was a toy in the 70's that would punch an opponent's head off.

It was a really sweet evening and probably more memorable than if we had gone to an expensive restaurant. The kids were fantastic and I think they had as much fun as we did. I am really proud of them. I smiled for days after the anniversary when I thought about how they dressed up for the dinner for us. Here is Andrew after his dictionary reading, cooking, serving and eating.

It's June already?

Wed, 01 Jun 2005 18:39:12 GMT

Been very lazy today. It was the first day in a while that I didn't make a list of things to do before I finished my coffee.

Here is a sampling of what I found on the internet today. I don't remember what I began searching for, but I had an interesting ride.

A movie is being made about a supposedly haunted vacant lot in my hometown. I discovered that by searching "Elgin" on IMDB. The eventual results led me to a page with all of the actors, writers, crew members, directors and critics born in Elgin, Illinois. Some I had heard of such as Bruce Boxleitner and Tom Shales. Others interested me because they were close to my age. Some I just glanced at to see if I had seen any of their films. I clicked on one name and saw that his film was supposed to be released this year. It interested me mostly because my husband recently has been obsessing on wishing he had a telephone to communicate with the dead. (a thought that disturbs me) I did a search on "The Second Line" and found an interview that mentioned a site I had been to before that discussed hauntings in Elgin. (In fact I have two stories to send to the people who run that site)

I also think that someone with whom I grew up is listed on that page of people who were born in Elgin. His family lived on a street behind mine and the many boys of the family would play in the yard behind mine. They were all named with names beginning with "D" and once the baby ate some wild mushrooms or toadstools and had his stomach pumped. His younger brother, Darrell lived down the street from my mom and dad, I think. I mostly remember Darrell becauase he used to work at a liquour store I frequented in my early twenties.

Interesting things you can find while being very lazy and playing on the internet all day.

Awareness wristbands and Lent

Mon, 25 Apr 2005 13:17:20 GMT

What do those colorful plastic wristbands that are popular to wear these days and Lent have in common?

Here in my household they both are not much more than fads.

There have been articles written about the "devaluation" of the colorful wristbands such as this one from the Philadelphia Enquirer:

"Red, blue, purple, pink - no one color can be exclusively related to a particular group or ailment. So, how meaningful can sporting these awareness bands be?

And there's a rampaging ubiquity to it all, as with other fast fads. Our culture seizes on something, then wears it, says it, or does it to death.

Besides, let's face it, it's a tad self-aggrandizing to show the world you've donated - minimally - to a charity.

What do women say when they see a band dangling from the wrist of a guy at a bar? "Ooo, Jenny, he's tall and he hates heart disease. I think he could be the one"?...

...Teen-tilted stores such as American Eagle Outfitters are selling multihued wristbands that have nothing to do with doing good.

It's becoming mere fashion now."

My daughter wears a Livestrong band that she was given by her well-meaning Girl Scout leader, and one she found that is multi-colored. I asked her what it stood for, and she didn't know, and said she didn't care, it was a wristband, and wearing them is in style.

To me, this is not much different than what happened during Lent this year. She struggled to figure out what she wanted to "give up" for Lent. I asked her why she was going to give up something at all, and she reminded me that it was Lent. I took that at face value, after all, she attends church pretty regularly, and perhaps her youth group was promoting it. She eventually chose to give up sour things including lemons and pickles, two of her favorite foods. Giving up these foods meant we could not serve one of our staples around here - chicken piccata which has lemons and capers.

After a while this Lent thing got old. Not because we couldn't have chicken piccata, but because when we did put pickles or lemonade on the table she would whine. Loudly. And remind us of her sacrifice. Loudly.

I asked her why, exactly, she was giving up something for Lent and if she could explain the religious reason for it. This must have been in a weak moment for her, because she answered honestly. She told me it had little to do with Jesus and was mostly because all of her friends were giving up something for Lent. Well, maybe not her Jewish friends, but most of the others were. It was something to talk (whine?) about at lunch - how they could not have chocolate or pickles or candy or whatever they had chosen to give up for forty days.

I saw this first hand during the girl scout meetings. It was especially noticeable when one of the most vocal girls chose to give up talking for 24 hours. Did you know that someone who doesn't talk can cause more noise than if she were talking loudly? Really, it is true. The person uses sign language (well her own made up sign language) and then all the other girls shout out what they think she is trying to say. Think charades. With 10 teenaged girls who are grumpy because they are giving up something.

Then there was the weekend of fasting where two of the girls (one was the girl who couldn't talk the week before) moaned about how hungry they were and gloated that they were making such a sacrifice for their beliefs. Of course then the rest of the non-Jewish girls whined about their own sacrifices. Loudly.

I write this mostly "tongue-in-cheek". Teens are teens. They quickly follow fads and drop them just as quickly. Maybe wearing various awareness bracelets "will" cause them to think about whatever charity they are wearing the bracelet for. Perhaps not now, but maybe when they are older and able to help out the cause in some way. Perhaps giving up things during Lent really does make them think about what Jesus sacrificed (or whatever the reason people give up things for Lent). It sure makes me think about it. I mean when they give things up. And moan or whine...

Come to think of it, I was a teenager in the 1970's. I wore a POW bracelet.

POW bracelets were the fad in the 1970's. Did all we teens wear them because we cared about the person whose name was on the bracelet? Sure, some did, but others of us wore them like we wore White Stag ski jackets, peace sign pendants and bellbottoms.

So I guess the moral of this entry is, times change, fads change, but teenagers don't. Really.

And next Lent, I am going to try to talk my daughter into giving up fads. Just for forty days.

Wish me luck.

Princess Bride meets Midnight Run? Oh my...

Fri, 22 Apr 2005 12:41:08 GMT

While I claim to be a fan of Neil Gaiman, I have only actually read three of his works: The Day I Swapped my Dad for Two Goldfish, Stardust and Smoke and Mirrors. I listened to Coraline on tape though, and since it was Gaiman reading it, that counts, doesn't it? I also saw the Neverwhere BBC series - and rewatched it with the author's commentary on. I have begun reading American Gods and Good Omens as well (but stopped to read book group books instead). I own all of the above books, except Coraline. Finally, I religiously read his journal.

Therefore I feel as if I have a right to an opinion about his books being made into movies...

Today I read the following passage in an article about someone named Vaughn who is planning on making a movie out of Gaiman's book, Stardust. (which is technically not a graphic novel. There are two versions, the illustrated one and one that is not illustrated):

A few months ago, it was announced that Vaughn would also produce and direct an adaptation of Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess' graphic novel Stardust sometime after he finishes X-Men 3. "I've written the treatment, but I'm not a writer, so I'm just trying to find the right writer"¹," he updated us. "Obviously, to make it into a movie, I have to change it a bit, and put a new third act on. It's going to be cool, sort of like 'Princess Bride' meets 'Midnight Run'"²." Vaughn mentioned that he has some limited edition art that Charles Vess sent him, but that his movie would look somewhat different. "The way he paints is very Victorian in a way, but I want it to have more of a modern look. I think the problem is that when people say 'we're going to do a fairy tale, so therefore, let's shoot it in a fairytale way.' I wanted to shoot it more modern and grittier"³."

Writer: Well, why not use Gaiman?

Princess Bride meets Midnight Run: The Princess Bride part is good, but Midnight Run? Isn't that about drug dealing in some super-conservative country? Or am I thinking about a different movie? (Ok, I looked it up. It's even worse than the drug movie) Whatever. It certainly does not sound like it fits the mood of the book.

Different look than what Vess and Gaiman planned? Come on...the whole story works because it is set in the Victorian era. Make a movie about Artemis Fowl if you want a modern and gritty fairy tale.

They need me there to set them straight...

College costs and job hunting

Wed, 13 Apr 2005 12:49:40 GMT

Well, it's official. We are going to be dirt-poor in a few short years when our kids overlap in college. Dean made the mistake of talking to a friend whose child is looking at colleges and came away from that conversation in shock. Looks like college may cost up to $40,000 a year.

I tried to prove him wrong and found several colleges that cost less than that, but he discovered that his alma-mater does actually cost that much, as does Johns Hopkins. He suspects that the Ivy League schools do as well. Not that our kids have a chance at Ivy League schools, well not unless they get their acts together and suddenly become outstanding overachievers.

It looks like I am going to have to actually go back to full-time work in the very near future. Dean hints at it on a regular basis and I get depressed. Don't get me wrong - I don't mind working, but I hate the whole application/interview process. I hate being rejected and it puts me in a very sour mood, especially if I really thought the job was what I wanted.

My last big job hunt was in 2000 after graduating from GW with a masters in ETL. I looked at schools - I wanted to be an IT specialist in elementary or middle schools. I did not want to go back to teaching in a special ed environment. I had 16 years of that and it was enough for me. My current idea of an ideal job would be a media specalist in a school. However I don't have the coursework in library science for that. Funny, when I was a teen, my supposedly best friend, Cindy, insisted I was going to be a childless unmarried librarian while she was going to be a mom with lots of little blond haired children. Now I want to be a "librarian", but it is too late since I already spent the family fortune on a masters degree in a useless subject.

I also don't really want to go back to an office like my last job. I didn't feel as if I was contributing to society much at all. At least I didn't see the results and in the end the web site I was most involved in was taken down due to federal budget cuts anyway. And it turns out that while web sites do have to be accessible, those crafty programmers are learning how to do it without my help! That, and they often ignore the law.

I do need to get a job though. Not just for money, but for self-worth. I thought that being here for the kids as they entered adolescence would be rewarding enough, but I was mistaken. It's true that as your children grow they rely on their friends for validation more then their parents, and I'm a little tired of being treated like a piece of furniture whose job it is to clean up after everyone in the house. (hmm, I would not mind getting a piece of furniture that did all my work... But that would involve getting a job. Care for a game of Catch-22 anyone?)

What's up with this friends only crap?

Wed, 23 Mar 2005 20:50:15 GMT

I am more and more disgusted with Live Journal since it reminds me so much of middle school.

What is up with "I have a journal and it has a lot of stuff you might like but it is only friends only sorry..."

I understand kids doing that, but grown-ups? I like to read bits and pieces from various people on Live Journal and sometimes follow their links. When a link leads to a "friends only" journal its a little bit offputting to say the least.

It makes me think of my daughter's friend who used to be her best friend, but since my daughter is not in the popular crowd due to whatever the hell matters these days in middle school (and I imagine it is the same as when I was in middle school - which was called junior high back in the stone ages) they are not even sort of friends anymore. This girl talks to my daughter, but when anything interesting may be about to be said, she smiles a little private smile and goes quiet.

Leave it to the new generation to make the internet one big stupid popularity contest.

Wed, 16 Mar 2005 01:28:08 GMT

From The Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A35530-2005Mar14.html

They Like Ike, to the Tune of $700
• The kindness of strangers: After a Chicago pub-rock band called the Ike Reilly Assassination got into a squabble Saturday night over its place on the bill at the Velvet Lounge on U Street, the management told the musicians to hit the road before showtime. But as frontman Ike Reilly, his mates and road crew were about to leave unhappy and unpaid, two fans who witnessed the bum's rush went over and introduced themselves. They gave the band $500 to make up for the lost gig fee, Reilly said, and treated the seven ejectees to a $200 dinner in Bethesda.

Introducing themselves only as "Paul" and "Matt," the good Samaritans kept saying, "Don't give up on punk rock in D.C.," Reilly recalled yesterday to Post special correspondent Dave McKenna. Asked if he would ever bring the band back to the Velvet Lounge, the rocker said: "If I can go there again and not play and make $700, I guarantee I'll book it."

Ha! I made special arrangements to see this band and was there that night. I heard what happened - they showed up late and wanted to be first in the lineup (as they were billed), but the management told them no. They told me that the band got kicked out of the club.

I was very upset since I have wanted to see them play for over a year and finally was able to go to the show. I looked for the band, but figured they had talked to the venue on the phone. I don't think I would have given them $500 though. Would have gone to dinner with the band.

Snow Day

Thu, 24 Feb 2005 12:56:27 GMT

I awoke this morning to the sounds of excited squeals and footsteps running up the steps. My children got up early and checked the news station and discovered they had no school. Not a bad way to wake up at all.

I'm now enjoying a leisurely cup of coffee watching the almost microscopic bits of ice crystals fall from the sky knowing that my friends and family in Chicago would laugh once again at the school closures in this area.

I don't post here much anymore as I have been doing more of it at blogger. I have been experimenting with some posts that I wrote as a teenager under a different title in blogger. I also installed WordPress on a server where I rent space. So far that has gone nowhere as I am unsure how to use it and it seems to be attracting a lot of spam in the comments.

Flickr

Tue, 08 Feb 2005 18:38:06 GMT

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Wed, 26 Jan 2005 23:22:20 GMT

Yahoo! News - 10 Die, 180 Hurt After Train Hits SUV

What?

" The SUV driver got out at the last moment and survived."

If you are going to kill yourself, don't take anyone with you. And don't chicken out at the last minute.

Thu, 13 Jan 2005 17:03:45 GMT

In October my daughter and I attended (actually, I worked and she pouted) the National Book Fair on the Mall in Washington DC. I worked in the children and teens and children pavilions but never got to walk around to the other ones. Next year I plan on not working, just enjoying.

On the way out I allowed Clare to look in the Book Sales tent. When she was finished she mentioned that she wanted a book called Coraline. She had heard of it from a friend. A few weeks later she was at a book store and we tried to buy the book but it was not in stock. The book store sales person wrote down the name of the author, Neil Gaiman. I looked him up online, but didn't buy the book. I did suggest to people that they give it to her for Christmas though.

We like to listen to books on tape on long car trips, so this time I checked out from the library the audio version of Coraline read by the author. We all found it to be delightful and I made a note to pick up more of his books when I had a chance.

The other day I bought myself Smoke and Mirrors, a collection of short stories by Gaiman and Good Omens, a novel written with Terry Pratchett. I began reading Smoke and Mirrors the night I got it and am in love with the writing. I wrote the following on 100 words:

January Batch - 13

Sometimes, discovering a new author is like falling in love. If that is the case then I must be in love with Neil Gaiman*. His writing is so refreshing and readable that I cannot seem to get enough of it. We listened to his Coraline on the drive to Illinois and I recently bought myself two of his books, Smoke and Mirrors and Good Omens, written with Terry Pratchett. Something about his writing, his voice, tickles my insides and makes me feel good all over.

*Of course I am not really in love with Mr. Gaiman -- just with his writing.

What I like about Gaiman is mostly his humor. He writes in a style that is amusing and clever and intelligent. Another reason I like him is his accessibility. He has a journal on his site that he updates regularly. Recently someone wrote him and asked about literary agents. He answered her in depth on his blog so she and anyone else interested in the subject could learn from him and his experiences.

I hope someday to see him on tour. Had I known of him, I could have seen him in October when he was at the very book fair where I worked in the science fiction and fantasy pavilion. Until then I will just have to watch the cybercast (click on Neil Gaiman under Science Fiction and Fantasy and wait for the real player popup) instead.</span>

Happy Christmas

Thu, 23 Dec 2004 01:33:41 GMT

A Death in the Neighborhood

Wed, 22 Dec 2004 02:01:05 GMT

I am semi-active in the neighborhood association. I manage an email list and am working on updating the telephone directory. I also am working on creating a web page of FAQ about the neighborhood. I am also a "blockworker" which means I deliver newsletters to people on my block and the next one down.

We have about 300 families in the neighborhood and of course one cannot know all of them. But it seems as if one should know when one of the neighbors dies. Last year an elderly neighbor up the street from me who I had seen several times walking her small dog died several months before I had heard about it. I tend to keep to myself. My volunteerism usually takes place in front of a computer monitor, but sometimes it makes me come face to face with the neighbors and that is good.

As a part of the directory activities I need to phone some other block workers and pick up any directory forms they might have had dropped off to their house. This afternoon I did that and discovered that one of the workers' husband died a few weeks ago. I only met the woman once, and that was to pick up some completed forms, but I can almost see their house from my house and they have children almost the same age as my children are. One of their children goes to school with my kids and probably rides the same bus.

I guess I think that when something like that happens, people ought to know. Their life is now turned upside down while other people's lives are the same. When the woman told me that her husband died, she said, "Oh, since you are doing the directory you should know that Chris passed away on November 23." I didn't know who Chris was, but then remembered that when I called earlier I asked for Gaye or Chris because they are both listed as blockworkers. I was not sure what the relationship was, and didn't want to assume Chris was the husband of Gaye. I wish I had made that assumption because I think I came across as an uncaring oaf. I didn't say anything at first, then said I was sorry to hear that. She said, something like, "so you will want to take his name out of the directory" and I pretty much said, yes I guessed we would do that. I followed up with another exclamation of sorrow, and then the conversation was over.

I have not been able to stop thinking of it though. It could be my family going through this. And the mail would still be delivered, the grass would still grow, the neighbors would still be getting on with their own lives. Most would not even know anything had happened. I don't have an answer for how to be more conscious of other neighbors, but somehow I will work that in to my resolutions for next year. Maybe something like to look outward instead of always inward.

Flork

Thu, 02 Dec 2004 18:28:46 GMT

Somehow, probably through stumbleupon, I signed up for Flork. I laugh when I say it because it reminds me of the way The Coach from Homestarrunner says job ("jorb").

Anyway, it is an interesting way of wasting some time. Exactly what I need in my life. I like that it is connected to Gnod, so you can at least have brief conversations with others who like your taste in music, books or movies.

A Humbling Event

Thu, 02 Dec 2004 17:29:27 GMT

We have these really tiny but strong magnets that we use to hold things on our refrigerator. My son likes to play with them and has lost several of them over time. He was playing with a stack of 6 the other day and I recalled seeing them somewhere, but could not place it. Both my husband and I asked him where the magnets were, but my son said he could not remember.

Yesterday I saw them on the floor of the bathroom, but by the time I was finished in the bathroom I forgot to pick them up, they are tiny after all. Last night, I went to the bathroom just to get the magnets, but they were gone. I confronted my son and asked where he put them, that I knew he took them and put them somewhere. I was relentless and he denied it. I left it off, finally, but let him know I was upset and didn't believe him.

This morning after my shower, I reached to put on my bra and found, attached to the metal underwire part of the bra, the stack of 6 tiny magnets. I must have worn them all day long inside my bra. Gee.

How am I going to explain this to my son? It won't be easy. Maybe I just will pretend I found them on the floor.

Amazon Theatre -- Just a comercial

Tue, 09 Nov 2004 13:35:14 GMT

Logging onto my Amazon account today I found a short film waiting for me to watch.

It was a light and kind of sweet, but hokey film about a kind, but overweight woman who has her photo taken by "Bud". She works with three nasty, but attractive women who mock her choice of photographers.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/13609391/104-8463270-8911929

After viewing the film you are able to click a button that says "film features" which is a link to products used in the film. How sad. I actually liked Amazon, but now I am going to avoid it if I can.