Ruth & Kathy Need A Hand--Or Several

My sister and her walk partner Kathy are raising funds for their walk in the Susan G. Koman for the Cure Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk.

They can earn a donation from Starlight this Monday (yes, tomorrow) if they can get a group of people to work as ticket-takers. If you'd like to lend a hand tomorrow night from 5:30 to 9:30 (but probably earlier than 9:30 by quite a bit), you can e-mail Ruth directly. Her e-mail address can be found by clicking here, then scrolling down to the bottom of the first page.

Also, they are working with Uno's Chicago Grill for a fundraiser on August 13 & 14. If you have friends and/or family who live in the KC area who might want to eat out one of those two days, please send them here to get the flier that would give part of their sale to Ruth & Kathy's 3-Day.

And, of course, if you just want to donate to their team, follow the links to each donation page (the links can be found here), and donate to the one needing more money!

For anyone interested, my next post will be my 200th!

Putting Patsy To Rest

Dane's surprise party was today. A good time was had by all. Dane was surprised, but admitted to thinking there was something hinky about this trip "back home", but figured the birthday party part was going to be after church tomorrow.

Instead, they're having a carry-in after church tomorrow for him.

After the party, we took Mom's ashes around to the sites she may or may not have designated. There's some debate, as she wasn't all let-me-write-this-down-y about it.

So she's behind the spot where the old Post Office was, she's at home on the old ball diamond, and she's by a tree at the old farm.

Five of the eight of her kids were able to make it. Two of her grandkids made it, (and her granddaughter was actually excited to get to spread ashes--which makes me think she might have a little bit of Patsy about her... I mean in her personality, not on her hands until she gives them a good washing.

A few months after Mom died, my aunt Lois died, and I talked about a picture we used to have of Mom and her siblings when they were kids. I finally found it. If you want to go back to January/February/...maybe March/April, even... of 2006, you can read what I actually said about this photo, re: the afterlife.

The two young girls in the front row, from left to right, are my aunt Lois and my aunt Rachel. The three in the back (also left to right) are my mom, Uncle Bud (pronounced "bood"), and my aunt Deana Mae. As I mentioned before, I never met Uncle Bud. He died at Iwo Jima when my mom was in high school.

I don't remember who the two folks in the background are. I may have been told more than once, but I can't remember the names. That tear in the fabric of space is probably a tear in the original photo that was scanned many moons ago when "come scan your picture at our store" technology first started crawling out of the primordial techno-ooze.

Anyway, there's the picture.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend. I'm going to read for a while, then fall into a solid sleep and see what dreams this day inspires.

Hurricane Bears Down On Coast

You may not have ever heard the story of the day--many many years ago... pre-Katrina--the title for this post was the big headline in the KC Star.

So I'll share:

I saw the paper, laughed, and then went from classroom to classroom, holding up the paper and saying, "There are Hurricane Bears down on the coast!" I would then allow enough time for confusion/thought/whatever, then ask, "What's a Hurricane Bear?"

Stupid joke, but I remember it fondly.

Anyway, I was put in mind of that day on this day.

I didn't notice the stuffed bears strewn around the room at the Mo. Math Academy when I got there this morning, but I should have. I did notice there was a Winnie on my table, and the stupidest part of my brain thought one of the ladies who sit at my table must have brought it.

Seriously, I thought this. Or the stupidest part of my brain did. The rest of my brain would like to point out that it was too busy thinking about getting to my seat, setting my stuff down, and turning over to the woman running MMA the wad of cash I'd found on the floor on my way in. Much too busy thinking about all that ("What should I say when I hand it to her? Make a reference to tipping her? I wonder how much money is in here, anyway... I know I saw a ten and a five. What did that stupid part of my brain just think about that Pooh doll? Never mind, maybe I should wait until nobody is around, in case someone is all dishonesty and stuff..." and so on...) to even make a "Oh-how-could-you-be-so-stupid" face at the stupidest part of my brain.

At any rate, I got my stuff settled, walked over to Chris, handed her the cash and made a stupid tip joke immediately followed by the actual facts and my theory as to who it might belong to, then returned to my seat, forgetting all about the bear--and still not noticing there was at least one other bear on every other table, and two kissing bears hanging from the overhead projector.

About ten minutes later, there was some planning on the part of the facilitators (or whatever the actual title is for the people running this thing) that registered in the extreme back of my brain as "they're getting ready for the first warm-up or team-builder, or whatever", and then Chris started talking to us about the plan for the day.

I had enough time to realize she was the only facilitator (or whatever) in the room, then turn my attention back to her, when all the facilitators (or whatevers) came running in from both main entrances, yelling "Let's go! Let's go!" and so on, as they grabbed the bears from the tables and the overhead projectors. They all ran back out with the stuffed bears, the last one saying, "We got eight!"

Chris then says, "Good, that puts us at negative eight bear attacks already this morning."

I laughed very loudly, and realized I was the only one in the room doing so, which made me realize nobody else had any idea what I was laughing about because they hadn't read my "Reflection" sheet from the end of the day yesterday.

All the facilitators (whatevers) had, but Chris was the only one in the room. She immediately knew I had to have been the one to write the comment that helped put this strange event into the planning stages, and she told the others as they came back in.

They all threw stuffed bears at me, while I was still laughing too loud to think straight.

Now, of course, you're sitting there all confused like the other 16 or so participants (non-whatevers) who were in the room, because I'm telling this story in what I think is the right order (but it's what I'm sure some might argue is in the wrong order... but I digress). I then told them the rest of the story... or the first part of the story.

So here's the rest of the story... or the first part of the story--that needed to be last so you'd feel like I (and everyone else) felt when several people came running into the room to remove teddy bears (and, I suppose, so you'd feel what everyone else felt when I started laughing like something very funny just happened, when--at best--it was just all very surreal):

At the end of each day, we've been filling out a "reflection sheet" (but not called that... I think the terminology has changed) that gives space for what stands out from the day (or what we thought was most helpful... or something like that), and space for what we think should be changed.

Well, math-teaching geek that I am, the first full day I had no idea of a suggestion of what to change. I loved it all. Well, what I didn't love didn't need to be changed, anyway.

Yesterday, I had nothing to put in that section either, but I didn't want to put, "I have nothing to write here," again. So I wrote,

"Fewer bear attacks. I realize we are currently at 0 bear attacks, but I'd feel better if that number was lowered to -1 or -2."

I liked it because it was random, nonsensical, and mathematical all at once. I hoped someone might get a chuckle out of it, and at most maybe they'd ask us who wrote it.

So for that group to come up with this goofy plan to sorta "get back" at me, it was like Christmas in July, baby!

I was laughing for a good ten minutes after it was all said and done. I actually am laughing almost as much now as I think about it.

I like people who make me laugh. They're funny!

Important News

Okay, not really, but Dane sent an e-mail to a bunch of us today, and I wanted to share:

*****

Subject: An interesting fact

July 14 is the 196th day of 2008. 14 times 14 is guess what 196.

It happens only in leap years of course.

*****

I don't know if he read it somewhere, or--more likely--he just figured it out. Ask me about Dane's number abilities sometime.

Anyway, I e-mailed him to see if he came up with it on his own, but he still hasn't replied.

I started Missouri Math Academy today. Today's half-day session leads me to believe this is going to get me all thinkin'-and-ready for the upcoming school year.

Also, I may have found a graduate school program as a result of going through this. Let's hope!

I'd say to scroll down and post some positive news on the appropriate post, but I think I lost a lot of readers during my "dark period" this late winter & entire spring...

It's A Library Thing, And You Wouldn't Understand...

Hey, check out librarything!

I just started building my library on there, and hope to get to meet people who read the stuff I read and like to discuss. Cross your fingers!

Remember, I'm wanting to hear good news in the comments section on the post two below this one!

A Dream About A Blog

Hey, I still want GOOD NEWS comments on the post before this one... but I had to post this.

I'm spending a couple of nights here with the Hart family (it's the closest thing to a vacation I'm gonna have this summer, I think), and I always have strange dreams in their guest room.

Last night, I dreamt (among lots of other strange dreams) that MANY people read that last post, and they posted all kinds of strange good news. And the thing is, I didn't have any idea who those commenters were.

There was an edge of "it looks like some youth group was assigned the job of posting good news to this post" to it.

Anyway, I just wanted to share that my dreams are WAY out-doing you people.

But thanks for your good news, Tracy!

I'm Working On It...

Lots to report, but first I want to say that I promised Erin I'd have my photoblog caught up by... two Saturdays ago, and I've yet to do that.

The excuse-riddled version of reality is that I forgot I had a birthday party to attend that day, and that I'm having a slight technical difficulty moving the photos from where I had stored them (well, some of them) to my computer.

Anyway, I'm working on it.

Summer School turned out okay. It's amazing what having 12 students instead of over twice that many can do. Maybe I'll give a more detailed account some day, but don't count on it.

A week ago tomorrow I received an e-mail that a friend's daughter had passed away. She was born with a severe chromosome disorder. They believe she had a seizure in her sleep, and this was the cause of death.

She'd turn four on the 20th of this month.

I hadn't talked to my friend for a long time (one or two e-mails as the exception, I hadn't exchanged words with him in close to 20 years), but this still hit me in a bad way.

Then I just got an e-mail from Tricia that the only surviving member of Ben's "class" (as in "treatment of cancer class") passed away.

And the strange thing is how hard this hit me. I was about to call Ben to see how he was doing, then realized it's 10:15 (well, later than that now, I suppose).

I haven't suffered that kind of out-of-the-blue weeping (meaning a sudden outburst with no... uh... prelims) since some time after Mom died.

I remember attending a class with Tricia (since Ben had two very small girls at home at the time, I was Plan B for if one of the girls got sick and Ben couldn't stay at his house), and meeting this man's wife. They were expecting their first child, and she learned that he would not be able to help change diapers. It's just a thing that stuck in my head.

I'm not even sure I ever met this guy. I think I might have at the one survivor celebration I attended with Ben, now that I think about it.

His daughter turns 5 on her dad's funeral date.

And apparently his wife is in remission from breast cancer.

Anyway, it's apparently very upsetting (or, perhaps his passing along with the little-one's passing last week has just sent me over the weepy edge) and I wanted to share. I couldn't think of who I would feel comfortable calling at this hour to share my upset-ed-ness with, so I figured the whole world (or the handful of people who read this blog) will have to do.

So, if you'd like to post a comment and share something wonderful that's happened to you (or someone you know) lately, I could use the upbeat news.

Just Because

Andy updated his blog today and acknowledged a recent lack of updates (I think it was maybe a 4-day gap). His reason for the lack of updates was "just because."

I like it. I think I'm going to steal it.

I haven't posted on here for a couple of months... just because.

Oh, I could go into all the details, but I don't think I come off as such a together guy when all the details are on the table. Of course, I don't think I come off as such a together guy when people first see me in any setting. Or when they second-thru-infinitieth see me. But why add fuel to that fire, eh?

Yes, the details would include the three-jobs-at-once thing, even though I still had some free time in there back when I had the three jobs. The details would include reminders that I have dial-up, and everything takes about five times as long as it does on what passes for a "normal" computer these days. The details might even include just some heavy thoughts that I've been avoiding these past several months. The details might even include this recent wave of more-numb-than-usual-ness that took over my life when I was at my busiest. But I have fallen in love with: just because.

Moving on to the update: I'm teaching Algebra I to high school students in XLT (read: Summer School). I'm one of the "2nd Semester" teachers. I took this job thinking these students need this credit, so they will be motivated to work hard and at least pass.

I'm an idiot.

It's not entirely their fault. They're young. For reasons known only to those in charge of scheduling, I was given 34 kids on my original roster. Joel, the other 7th grade math teacher at Eastgate--who is also teaching 2nd Semester Algebra I--had 17 students on his roster.

Because of time constraints, the rooms were assigned using a floor plan (and thus no idea of the room layouts). I was originally assigned a room with three round tables in it. Each table could seat 8 students. There were 4 chairs at a computer area, and one chair at a desk over in the corner. Do the math.

Luckily, before the first day with kids, I'd had my numbers lowered...

..to 31.

In case you need it explained, let me explain why round tables are a bad idea in a school setting: Student looks up, and immediately sees someone to socialize with. Socialization mode boots up and runs until outside input from the teacher causes an emergency shut down into indignant innocent victim mode. I thought this was merely a 7th-grade affliction, but I can now report it can also be seen in grades 9 through 11.

Luckily three of my students never showed up (28 now, if you're counting), one hasn't shown up after the first day (27...), and three were pulled out for another class halfway through the second day (24).

And this week I got to move to a room with actual desks in it. You probably don't believe it makes much of a difference, but it really does.

Now, twenty-four students isn't ideal, but it isn't the worst of all possible worlds. However, when you're covering an entire semester of Algebra I in five-hour blocks (with one 15-minute break) and no realistic expectation of practice outside the classroom... twenty-four is more than twice the number of students that should be in that room.

Also, it would help if the students who didn't want to be there would just stay home. Their parents, in an effort to either "punish" the student or get some free babysitting (but these kids are 15-18 years old, do they need a--wait, yes, some of them do) are making them come to Summer School.

Which is great for all the kids who either really want to get this credit, or want a whole lot to get the credit but have a hard time overcoming the urge to socialize with those students who are just there because they were forced to be there. It's fan-freakin-tastic!

I am really enjoying working with about 10 of the kids--the ones who are there to work and get the credit. There are another half dozen or so who would probably be okay if the 8 or so that are there for no reason would just stay home. Those middle-ground kids try for a while, then decide it's more fun to just mess around with the kids who are there to kill time.

I don't know. It's frustrating.

I want to know how the program is "marketed" to the students. I really don't think they're being told "You're covering a week of school each day, so if that pace is too much for you, you should wait until the next school year and take the class then."

I want to know the district's goal--or motivation, even--for the program. If it's for the kids to learn the material and get the credit, the district is going about it an odd way. I'm not saying that a person's (or an organization's) goal can be clearly understood by examining behavior, but it sure can shed a light on a few things.

So, I trudge on, day by day, running the mantra "I'm doing it for the money" through my head, much like when I was delivering pizza, but with more high blood pressure--but less wear and tear on my car.

Tomorrow we review and test over Chapter 6, Systems of Equations (and Inequalities). I love teaching this material. I'd love teaching it to a regular class even more, I think.

Since I haven't posted in a while, I'm going to make a list here of things I've been meaning to post about, but never did. Feel free to comment on occasion to remind me I've forgotten to post these:

1. A Bad Day for the Tree and Me
2. Bye-Bye Papa John's Pizza Pie
3. Less Mellow, More Drama
4. The Best Juke Box in the Known (by me) Universe

Goodnight everybody!

Happy 90th, Wherever You Are!

I realized today during class that it was Carrie's birthday. But there was this doubt in my mind as to whether or not it really was her birthday. But I knew it was someone's.

So, with minimal research (on my own site, even), I realized it was Dad's birthday. If he were alive, he would have turned 90 today.

Yeah, it sounds horrible that I forgot his birthday, but it's been 23 years and 22 days since the last one he was here for... and plus, I'm terrible with family birthdays that are all close together and stuff.

Okay, it's horrible.

Anyway, Happy 90th, Dad, wherever you are!

(I'd post more, but I went out of my way to log on just to get that entered. Long night of fun pizza delivery here.)

Yeah, I've Been Gone. Still Sorta Gone. Just Here To Post A Link.

Check this out. If you subscribe or have a login or whatever, give us crazy high marks.

I have lots of pictures to upload on the other blog. Someday. And I'll put an update here. Someday. Working several jobs these days.

My Return To MCM&VCo., Week 1

I really wanted to write a daily blog entry (or at least one blog entry per rehearsal) for this "event" or "happening" or "insanity"... however you want to label it. However, I found that was a wonderful pipe dream, and nothing more.

So, instead, I'll try to type an update every Sunday. We'll see how long that lasts.

Rehearsals started last Sunday at noon. I had to skip church, as I can't make it from church to MCM&VCo. by noon. I met the two people I didn't know, and we pretty much dove in with the blocking of the first few scenes.

The best news is how few lines I have. The shows are usually pretty evenly broken up, and having one-sixth or one-seventh of the lines makes for a pretty light line load. This show is less evenly broken up, so my line load is even lighter... but I get to play several goofy characters, which is the sort of thing I enjoy.

While offstage, I'm doing origami, which is not new to me, but new to my MCM&VCo. experience. It makes the time go quickly.

We finished blocking the first three scenes, were told to have them memorized by Wednesday, and I got to go home, because I was not slated to be in the opener of the vaudeville, and that was all that was left to rehearse.

Monday evening, I learned I'm going to be in the opener after all. So, I got to learn it on the fly.

Rehearsals are pretty much as I remember them. Maybe it's too early to say, but I don't think I'll have the frustration level I had the last few shows I did at MCM&VCo. The frustration mainly came from me having a bit too much passion about doing things a certain way. Now, embarrassing to admit thought it may be, I'm in it for the money. So I can go with the things that used to make me insane. Or more insane.

By the end of Thursday's rehearsal, we'd blocked the entire show, and had made a lot of headway with two of the vaudeville numbers.

I've learned a lot of my lines, and I've also learned that some origami projects do not translate well onto paper... I mean as far as the "how to" instructions go.

Oh, and I learned that Saturday rehearsals can still be a killer.

By the time I got home last night (rehearsal was from 10 to 6), I thought my legs were going to stage a rebellion and leave me (and they probably would have, were it not for the whole "having to walk to get away from you" element--oh, and because they can't survive without my circulatory system and so forth).

And bonus: watched Steve Jones perform a number from Pet Pizazz several years ago. I've got to remember to go post a comment about that on Mrs. Jones' blog.

The show opens on the 15th of February, which means I have about 4 more weeks of rehearsal. Everybody wish me a leg-breaking--the theatrical kind, not the actual.

Another Holiday Season Down

And I mean taken down. I just got the outside stuff down a couple of hours ago. I'm working on the tree (I stopped so I could get a new plastic tub for the tree parts, so the tree may stay up a while longer).

Another teacher and I were talking the other day, and this past holiday season wasn't as holiday-season-y for us. I had been thinking it, but hadn't really put my mind's finger on it until she expressed it.

While I was taking down the lights I kept thinking "Next year, I have to remember to..." and then I'd remind myself that hopefully next year these lights would be going up at some other place.

Hope hope hope...

Anyway, I got on here to upload some pictures over at the other blog, and thought I'd so some more "nothing to say" posting over here.

Have a good one!

Friday Already?

Well, Friday is here, and hooray for that! (Because it's always hooray for Friday, right?)

Lots of things to get done at school, and lots of good things happening there, as well. Grade cards went home today, so I need to brace myself for the onslaught of phone calls about that... which means things I need to get done on Monday will maybe be put on hold... but that's the way it goes, eh?

Anyway, I was thinking today how I'm posting more on here lately, and I think I've figured out why: I always wait until I have something to say to post on here... but recently I've realized I never have anything to say. So, why not post whenever, right?

I'm trying to watch a TV show on the net. It's not working out very well for me, and I'm talking loudly at the screen, which might be confusing Killian (the dog), but he's taking it in stride.

Bingo tomorrow (I think) and in a little over a week I start rehearsals for the MCM&VCo. show!

Be good, folks!

House- (and Dog-) Sitting Again

I'm off house- and d0g-sitting again tonight. So feel free to stop by my house and steal lots of stuff--just be sure to steal that drain clog, while you're at it.

I kid. ONLY steal the drain clog.

Nothing new to report here. I'm tired, and will be going to bed soon. Today was a good day at school (which is to say no major trauma or unexpected policy changes, etc.).

There are so many crazy things going on that I'd love to type about, but I'm actually going to choose discretion and self-censorship for once, and close my eyes and hope it all just goes away.

In a related story, keep an eye out for my new one-man show in a clock-tower near you.

I kid, again.

So, good day, kids are back and I'm happy to see them again, and tomorrow is Friday! Life contains stress, but this is not news to anyone over the age of... birth.

Oh, and if you called me today, I didn't return your call because I left my phone at home and picked it up on my way here, then forgot to check messages until a few minutes ago.

That is all.

Happy 3rd to you!

Eat, Drink, And Be Merry, For Tomorrow The Kids Return To School

Well, it's not as bad as all that. Mainly it's the whole "waking up to the alarm" thing that I'm not a fan of.

God, in his/her infinite wisdom opted to make sure I was childless, and this "liking to sleep in" thing may have been a primary reason. Or a primary cause. Or one of them, anyway.

Anyway, tomorrow the whole thing kicks back in. There will be two days, a weekend, a full week, then a partial week (well, I think the Friday is a half day), another partial week (MLKJ day), then another couple (or few) full weeks, then a couple of partial weeks (Presidents Day), then a couple of full weeks (maybe three), and then Spring Break. Then it's several full weeks (which will include the MAP test), one partial (that's a half day on a Friday), then all full weeks until school is out.

Second semester is longer, but it goes by very quickly, sometimes.

Let's see... what else?

Oh, nothing new to report on the kitchen nightmare, other than some progress in the slow drainage of the standing water department.

And I forgot to buy a bunch of pencils today. I'm debating right now whether to go do it right now or wait until morning (and leave extra early) to stop by The Wal-Marts up north that's open 24 hours. Or, better yet, to just get a handful from the office in the morning until such a time as I can get to The Wal-Marts.

Yes, we have a winner.

Things are crazy right now. Just in my head, mostly. I'd be more detailed, but too many people behind the crazies read this blog, and... well, I've already said too much. Get it?

Okay, I'm off to bed, because my foot is about to freeze off. (Do you think I should get the computer out of the sun room?)

A Hope For Resolution (Not To Be Confused With A Resolution For Hope)

Just to catch you up, those of you playing along at home:

Went to Strasser's, got what I needed, and still not clog-free. However, there is hope... it's showing improvement, and at this point I'll take what I can get.

However, now my home smells like a fate worse than death. Hooray for holiday candles to mask the smell!

Today I went to the traditional welcoming in of the new year at Patrick & Leigh's. This was after running to Ben & Tricia's to borrow their kitchen, as mine is still on the fritz, as it were.

I'm glad gas is so cheap right now.

Anyway, that party pretty much wraps up the end of the holiday running-around, typically. I'll be taking my lights down on the 7th or so, and that will be it for this holiday season for me. Well, except for finally taking the tubs of holiday stuff down to the basement in March or April or so.

I kid. (I hope.)

I have a few resolutions. I'm not going to share most of them, but I do plan to be out of this home by the end of the year. Too many issues here, and they bring me down.

I mean, I've got enough issues of my own without my domicile adding to the mix.

Anyway, I hope everyone has a great 2008, and you have four weeks to figure out what you're getting me for my birthday!

Curses! Soiled Again!

Well, I need to go back to Strasser Hardware to finish this phase of my work, so I'm done for the night.

In the process, I got covered in the most disgusting water imaginable, so I've had a late-night NYE shower... the perfect way to celebrate, eh?

Tomorrow I shall wake up early enough to go to Strasser, and I'll probably be giving someone with a functioning kitchen a call so I can prep my food that I'm taking to the traditional NYD get-together over at P&L's.

Forward motion. Forward motion.

You know, doing this reminded me (as it does every time I do some sort of handy-work around the house) that I used to use tools to do this sort of thing (okay, not plumbing, but still) on a regular basis about twenty years ago. Then I have to wonder what happened to that me, and I wonder if his life is working out for him, wherever he ended up living it.

Okay, I think I'm going to hang out for another twenty minutes or so to see the new year in, and then I'm going to go to bed and read up on my book.

Happy New Year, everyone!

I'm Going In!

For those of you who don't know, my kitchen drains have been an issue since... um... February. Yes, I have a landlord (landlady, actually), but the last time I notified her of anything that needed fixing, I heard about it for a good month. So, I have long since taken a fix-it-myself attitude toward my living space.

Anyway, this drain has been slo-go to no-go since February, and I decided earlier today that I wanted to have this problem fixed by midnight tonight.

So I've been working on this off-and-on all day. The "off" part comes when I get frustrated and have to take a break.

I'm on an "off" part now, but it's because I'm waiting for the water I'm boiling to boil. It's a thing.

Anyway, I finally decided--since anti-clog products have done little-to-no good since February--to take the advice of several people and get under the sink and see if I can clear out the U-joints.

I did that at about 9:00. Let me tell you, folks, it's no fun.

First, I could spell "LULL" with the joints that are under the sink on the right. And I could spell "LU" (if it were a word) with the joints under the sink on the left--and I think it has fewer L-joints because of the garbage disposal unit under that sink.

Second, OH MY GOD THE AWFUL STENCH; I THINK I'M GONNA HURL!

Just sayin'.

Anyway, the sink on the right did have some plug issues, and that's taken care of, but I think there might be a plug issue further along.

So, here's my plan (be it wise or unwise--I doubt anyone will reply in time for me to change my plan either way): I'm going to pour boiling water down the right-hand sink, in the hopes the issue is some grease-related mess past the "LULL"-joints. Also, this will help me to test that I have the "LULL"-joints tightened correctly before I move the bucket under the whole "LU" situation under the left-hand sink.

If this works, I'll have a functioning kitchen again. I'll be able to do dishes, which means I'll be able to cook... which means... well, the possibilities are endless.

I hope to be done soon. A co-worker called just as I was getting under the sink to invite me to come hear her man play in a band somewhere not-far-ish from me. I wasn't planning on going out, but if I get this sink sitch taken care of, I may have to go out to celebrate!

Oh, and the poll results:

HAVE YOU MADE A NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION YET?

Yes.: 0%
Not yet, but I will.: 0%
No.: 50%
Artichoke!: 50%

Two people voted.

I'm not sure if I want to keep doing a poll. Feedback?

There Went Christmas Day...

Wow... it's been a while.

Say, Leslie, Jordan and I rode back to Center with Ruth last Friday night. We had the family holiday on Saturday, and--due to the weather forecast, I believe, opted to stay until Sunday. On the way back on Sunday we counted 30 vehicles in the ditch or on the side of the road. So, all in all, good plan, eh?

Sunday night I went to Ben & Tricia's, as per the norm, and I still am not sure if this is something I already had, or I caught it that night (I've found that--more often than not--I don't catch whatever cold bug the girls might have... of course, I probably just jinxed that), but by the time I got home Sunday night, I could tell I was going to be getting sick.

Ruth and I had a plan to go to Omaha very early Christmas morning and return by 3:00 or so that afternoon, but I felt so miserable on Monday that I knew six hours in a car wouldn't be a good thing.

So on Monday I didn't do much... I didn't even get on here to change my poll. I guess I'll have to save that idea for next Christmas Eve.

So Christmas Eve I stayed at home. I did stay up past midnight, and went outside at that time (briefly, anyway). Christmas morning I eventually woke up and started my day, going to house-and-dog-sit for Ben & Tricia while they did their traditional Christmas Day traveling.

And here I have been ever since, even though they returned the following night. The cold seems to be getting better, and it hit me as I was going to sleep last night that I hadn't updated this site for a while (and that I forgot to update the poll).

Speaking of the poll, here are the results from the last one:

WHICH VERSION OF "HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS" DO YOU LIKE BEST?
The original one that was too dark for the movie, even. 0%
The original one that was in the movie. ("Until then we'll have to muddle through somehow.") 40%
The more upbeat one. ("Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.") 20%
The Christian one. 20%
I dislike every version of that song. 0%
Interloper! 20%

There it is. New poll should be up minutes after this post...

Anyway, I hope the roads are okay for driving this afternoon, because I have to go home today (last night I finished the book I'd been reading), and I'd rather do it on less-slickery roads.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas... feel free to post comments and share. I need to go around and read all the blogs I normally read and see if there's any news there.

If I don't get a chance to post before, hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year's Eve, and Happy 2008!

Happy Holidays!

Here's a link to my Christmas card, in case I haven't sent you an e-mail about it yet:

http://www.discoverynet.com/~mtriggs/covr2007.html

If you didn't get an e-mail, check your spam folder first... if it isn't there, shoot me an e-mail. It could be in the great mini-crash of 2007 your address disappeared from my address book.

I've been meaning to share this little tidbit:

I finally got to hear the Alvin & The Chipmunks song I thought was so hilarious when I was much younger. It is their rendition of "The 12 Days of Christmas".

Let me first say that I am too old to listen to an entire A & TC CD. Not because "I shouldn't be doing that", but because it made me very irritable to hear those squeaking voices singing for 50 minutes or so.

I think I'll be avoiding the movie (which is unfortunate, because how fun to go see a movie the ads of which alone have taught young children to sing generic porn background music) because I'm irritable enough on my own. I don't need help at it.

Beyond that, the song wasn't even that much of a laugh riot. Boy, I sure thought it was great when I was in elementary school though. Who'd a thunkit? Sense of humor changes as we age.

I got to see the dentist today. Hooray!

Hey, if you go to STILL:Life and see the picture with all the comments, no worries... there's nothing controversial about the picture. Don't spend forever looking at the picture or sifting through the comments trying to find what was so commentable about that photo. Just a little late-night exchange between me and some unknown commenter.

I think I'm going to put another poll up now. Only five people voted in this last one:

Lafflines: Now that I've done them for 10 years, how should I handle them in the future? No change (but try to update them more regularly). 1 vote.
Put them on this blog, with links to your people pages. 0 votes.
Put them on this blog, but don't worry about linking them to your people pages. 3 votes.
I don't care. 1 vote.
Shoehorn. 0 votes.

I really wanted "Shoehorn" to win. Well, I don't know if I'm going to abide by the committee's decision, but thanks for the input.

Anyway, the poll that I'll be putting up shortly (I hope) will be up until about noon on the 24th. Then I'm going to put up a special Christmas poll... so be sure to come back on the 24th or the 25th so you can vote!