tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-236910012024-03-07T10:43:37.002-08:00Lucky Enoughmay the forces of light beat the living crap out of the forces of darkness*starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11367491788563927380noreply@blogger.comBlogger114125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23691001.post-47915140456497830842014-12-09T23:45:00.002-08:002014-12-09T23:45:31.676-08:00Bank Robberies: Episode 12Bank Robberies<br />
<br />
In 2011, there were 5,086 bank robberies in America. Or, to be more specific: 5, 014 robberies, 60 burglaries, and 12 larcenies.* Loot was taken in 89% of these incidents, totaling out to a loss of <b>$38,343,501.96. </b>That's a lot of money. Only 20% of these incidents had any of the money recovered--a comparatively measly <b>$8,070,886.97. </b><br />
<br />
Kate may have been after the airplane--can we mention the idea that she was willing to SHOOT people to get that airplane? I mean, sentimental value, sure, but shooting people?--but had she not shot her accomplices, it seems like their act could have scored them some pretty impressive cash. <br />
<br />
I like this episode, because it shows that Kate is both darker and significantly more unstable than her current island persona would suggest. The question is, will the island exacerbate Kate's ruthless streak or provide her with a environment in which she can regain her moral footing?<br />
<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>* </b>larceny: taking something that is not yours (i.e. shoplifting)<br />
burglary: larceny + illegal entry<br />
robbery: forceable stealing from a person, considered the most serious by the FBI<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
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*starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11367491788563927380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23691001.post-47482073562717391112014-09-23T17:54:00.000-07:002014-09-23T18:01:30.660-07:00Sawyer Says: Confidence Man (Episode 8)We all know Sawyer is the master of nicknames--able to leap from condescending to absolutely inappropriate in a single bound. I mean, I really have to hand it to the guy. The sheer volume of snappy monikers he has at his immediate disposal is both comprehensive and surprisingly creative. As evidence, I have compiled a list of all of the nicknames Sawyer used in the first nine episode of season one, but before I lay them all out, I thought it would be interesting to pose two questions:<br />
<br />
1. What would Sawyer call YOU? (This one frightens me a bit.)<br />
<br />
2. Do you think there is a larger pattern we can see in Sawyer's nicknaming practices?<br />
<br />
Consider. And take a look at what he's done with his fellow islanders:<br />
<br />
SAYID: (most nicknames to date) Boy, Buddy, Chief, Abdul, Al Jazeera, Ali, Arab, Jackass, Omar, Capt. Falafel, Mohammad, Boss<br />
<br />
JACK: Doc, Brother, Hero, Jacko, Saint Jack, Cowboy, Chico, Jackass, Dr. Quinn<br />
<br />
KATE: Sweetheart, Freckles, Belle of the Ball, Baby<br />
<br />
HURLEY: Lardo, Pork Pie<br />
<br />
SHANNON: Sweet Cheeks, Sticks<br />
<br />
CHARLIE: Sport, Amigo<br />
<br />
BOONE: Boy, Metro <br />
<br />
JIN: Mr. Miyagi<br />
<br />
*BONUS: What other people have called Sawyer:<br />
Sayid: Criminal<br />
Boone: Hick<br />
Hurley: Jethro<br />
Jess: Baby*starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11367491788563927380noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23691001.post-4468493197887873122014-08-17T22:08:00.000-07:002014-08-17T22:08:40.820-07:00Don't Tell Me What I Can't Do (Episode 4)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Disclaimer: Written for The Lost Book Club. </i> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, John Locke. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Even ignoring the show’s obvious efforts to keep Locke
ambiguous—scar, spooky music, etc.—you have to admit that the guy is sort of…dichotomous.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The man wakes up in a worst case scenario and experiences a miracle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What does that do to him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What would it be like to be handed redemption
and damnation in one package?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.25pt;">
Forgive the cliché, but this is all
very Pandora’s Box.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A plane falls out of
the sky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People are dead and dying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re out of food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re burning bodies in a fuselage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a bona fide MONSTER uprooting trees
and killing people in the jungle. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And no
one is coming to get them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.25pt;">
All aboard the handbasket.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.25pt;">
But in the midst of this, one man
wakes up and wiggles his toes… </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.25pt;">
A man who has suffered
humiliation, manipulation, and loss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.25pt;">
A victim who wishes to be
different <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">so badly</i> that he <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pretend</i>s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">it</i> until he seems to actually confuse his fantasy for truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(“Helen,” for one; Walkabout, for another.) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.25pt;">
A man who has been denied what he
considers his destiny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.25pt;">
What would redemption mean to a
man like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">John Locke</i>?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.25pt;">
Because the island has given John
more than just the ability to stand; it’s given him the thing he craves most:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">capability</i>.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.25pt;">
“Don’t tell me what I can’t do…” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He says it more than once in this episode, and
he will continue to say it throughout the series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(In fact, it will come back to haunt him in
the mouths of others before the end.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.25pt;">
And now, he’s got this <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">miracle</i>—a miracle that allows him to be
the Great White Hunter who throws knives, whittles dog whistles for desperate
fathers, and tracks boar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.25pt;">
The island allows Locke to be
CAPABLE. Makes him an asset to others. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gives him credibility.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.25pt;">
What does a miracle do to a man
like John Locke?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.25pt;">
It makes him a convert.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A believer. Even a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">zealot. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.25pt;">
He said it himself in the next
episode. “I'm an ordinary man, Jack, meat and potatoes, I live in the real
world. I'm not a big believer in magic. But this place is different. It's
special. The others don't want to talk about it because it scares them. But we
all know it. We all feel it. Is your white rabbit a hallucination? Probably.
But what if everything that happened here, happened for a reason?” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.25pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(If this show is really all a big audition
process for Jacob’s island-tending replacement, I would be willing to suggest
that John’s candidacy ought to have been a lock (ha, a pun) from the get-go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Thoughts?)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.25pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.25pt;">
The island made Locke <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">capable</i>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in the name of defending his connection to
the island, Locke will prove capable of a great many things….</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 356.25pt;">
Yeah. Interesting guy. </div>
*starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11367491788563927380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23691001.post-64812240514299727092012-11-10T12:41:00.000-08:002012-11-10T12:41:19.088-08:00A Straight FaceSometimes, the hardest thing about being a teacher is NOT laughing when you're kids do something funny. You're supposed to be the adult--set the good example and all that. <br />
<br />
The other day, one of my kids farted in the middle of lecture. The class burst into giggles. I would have felt bad for the kid, but he's outrageously popular and probably enjoyed the attention. I continued the conversation without missing a beat. A few of the girls were obviously trying to show their maturity by refraining from laughing. One of them raised her hand and asked me a question. <br />
<br />
When she didn't like the answer she was given, she huffed, "Well, that stinks."<br />
<br />
The class <i>lost it. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
The girl turned bright red. <br />
<br />
And I had to clench my teeth together and fake an interest in my papers to keep myself together. <br />
<br />
Ah, adulthood. <br />
<br />
Priceless.*starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11367491788563927380noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23691001.post-77173643436386608612012-07-06T11:38:00.000-07:002012-07-06T11:46:38.365-07:00Babies Love Tupperware<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0VTBq7Kf4nxq4t7f7z84nsDvthE9JiLZTJTu8U2lni_i5dtQaw67FxwzwmXOZ5dwF-FNplhu_r1JxRc4O1kKXT02MMBfd31obfTuvgYqtniObV6MhCKzxe9Qj796ypS_EuWg/s1600/Skye+Tupper+Underwhelmed.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0VTBq7Kf4nxq4t7f7z84nsDvthE9JiLZTJTu8U2lni_i5dtQaw67FxwzwmXOZ5dwF-FNplhu_r1JxRc4O1kKXT02MMBfd31obfTuvgYqtniObV6MhCKzxe9Qj796ypS_EuWg/s320/Skye+Tupper+Underwhelmed.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
"Well, gee... thanks. Tupperware. How... underwhelming."</div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf875JI2f7mzQI0sYfkK4fEiww87JeIYlkTfanrZUcHHPcmnX7ipLPAaX-xlZTgA8rwBHnyQ0qBCjIFOo6peD0djR6kmBxU6owRFxOLVpUbIZbXG10R4oGFX-L40Rgfi16Leb1/s1600/Skye+Tupper+Bang.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf875JI2f7mzQI0sYfkK4fEiww87JeIYlkTfanrZUcHHPcmnX7ipLPAaX-xlZTgA8rwBHnyQ0qBCjIFOo6peD0djR6kmBxU6owRFxOLVpUbIZbXG10R4oGFX-L40Rgfi16Leb1/s320/Skye+Tupper+Bang.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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"I'll wave it around a little bit. Just to humor you."</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiya9EOMqRFfN3m0DVwNKoECjucCaR3Je2BUxrmh112ESj7FC9UAAFX7qh8AIiN0HpW5MStxyZCWrpjSvERkh0frV26KSF_K_lsAdszpk4Q5ARYA1SZyWj5E1dxqkF7Fw94q536/s1600/Skye+Tupper+Wait.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiya9EOMqRFfN3m0DVwNKoECjucCaR3Je2BUxrmh112ESj7FC9UAAFX7qh8AIiN0HpW5MStxyZCWrpjSvERkh0frV26KSF_K_lsAdszpk4Q5ARYA1SZyWj5E1dxqkF7Fw94q536/s320/Skye+Tupper+Wait.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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"<em>...WAIT..."</em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Y_Sk4IFklcUNGwXZGGI1ULNcykII2Rv1RC8RNAyfHWLsYOTCkCpK250bjw08GaY2mLT8bQxIo2KBY-4R65pBS8FiY_kCSFYmJsZZkD4iKGDsOeNR5RlDMwETmxFw3yxruptY/s1600/Skye+Tupper+Smile.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Y_Sk4IFklcUNGwXZGGI1ULNcykII2Rv1RC8RNAyfHWLsYOTCkCpK250bjw08GaY2mLT8bQxIo2KBY-4R65pBS8FiY_kCSFYmJsZZkD4iKGDsOeNR5RlDMwETmxFw3yxruptY/s320/Skye+Tupper+Smile.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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"You mean I can bang this stuff repeatedly on my high chair AND throw it on the floor?"</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9plUcJgLlNy3n24oHgixq-cfR2b8Jh2NX339EoKPLJJukulqQ3-B1qXx8H1t_jpSYf5rCQOQ-xkO2XtRlNsjI0zosDwzts6UU7tLP21RDr8si9htlIXFuPTPuEENqp7rO3z4/s1600/Skye+Tupper+Hat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9plUcJgLlNy3n24oHgixq-cfR2b8Jh2NX339EoKPLJJukulqQ3-B1qXx8H1t_jpSYf5rCQOQ-xkO2XtRlNsjI0zosDwzts6UU7tLP21RDr8si9htlIXFuPTPuEENqp7rO3z4/s320/Skye+Tupper+Hat.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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"AND I CAN WEAR IT AS A HAT?!?!"</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3AJJX-CUmkls1M4-C4Qt9QzXlFlswroCNrSoTNWMTx4ihQ4_7CDjNIlG7DasM6JXnCmMBTzGULRFOpnfUQayKPrcHtbARj5HMDN28kwaNbtLEGMByjxRxCQAQLIisaDYmsXJ/s1600/Skye+Tupper+Share.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3AJJX-CUmkls1M4-C4Qt9QzXlFlswroCNrSoTNWMTx4ihQ4_7CDjNIlG7DasM6JXnCmMBTzGULRFOpnfUQayKPrcHtbARj5HMDN28kwaNbtLEGMByjxRxCQAQLIisaDYmsXJ/s320/Skye+Tupper+Share.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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"THIS IS THE BEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO ME! YOU HAVE GOT TO TRY THIS!!!!"</div>
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</div>*starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11367491788563927380noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23691001.post-10979746040998328032012-07-01T11:39:00.000-07:002012-07-06T11:46:54.799-07:00Copper Dog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJ9sr8qSlwu06mSyCh-dsuP_FoS2vw9Ld-zHLGuDo9kmDjwnCkclBInmVPEoh_XhCoD6dPUe7b6HsxHececlCIVXp0DssTcGZrxc4MCFLadRqG9o4ziM6yYqzjGM5MEPZNF24/s1600/DSC02127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJ9sr8qSlwu06mSyCh-dsuP_FoS2vw9Ld-zHLGuDo9kmDjwnCkclBInmVPEoh_XhCoD6dPUe7b6HsxHececlCIVXp0DssTcGZrxc4MCFLadRqG9o4ziM6yYqzjGM5MEPZNF24/s320/DSC02127.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I miss my dog. </div>*starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11367491788563927380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23691001.post-79536702115909005232012-01-04T20:58:00.000-08:002012-01-04T22:43:47.933-08:00Work, Sometimes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78Z8HFXG3PCd6raZkaE6E5H9gfkOnYebb-044At65gkSbM2iX7d_3_t6nGmm635UZdiJOpTRdoGVGaVJc4Jg4EUFC60aKVZkB5MW9CJODDS1vdWxU5x48979dmuTPZSJ_mf-A/s1600/Nature+Run.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 250px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694009931974454418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg78Z8HFXG3PCd6raZkaE6E5H9gfkOnYebb-044At65gkSbM2iX7d_3_t6nGmm635UZdiJOpTRdoGVGaVJc4Jg4EUFC60aKVZkB5MW9CJODDS1vdWxU5x48979dmuTPZSJ_mf-A/s320/Nature+Run.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Work, Sometimes</div><div> </div><div>I was sad all day, and why not. There I was, books piled</div><div>on both sides of the table, paper stacked up, words </div><div>falling off my tongue.</div><div> </div><div>The robins had been a long time singing, and now it</div><div>was beginning to rain.</div><div> </div><div>What are we sure of? Happiness isn't a town on a map,</div><div>or an early arrival, or a job well done, but good work</div><div>ongoing. Which is not likely to be the trifling around</div><div>with a poem.</div><div> </div><div>Then it began raining hard, and the flowers in the yard </div><div>were full of lively fragrance. </div><div> </div><div>You have had days like this, no doubt. And wasn't it</div><div>wonderful, finally, to leave the room? Ah, what a </div><div>moment! </div><div> </div><div>As for myself, I swung the door open. And there was</div><div>the wordless, singing world. And I ran for my life. </div><div> </div><div>-Mary Oliver</div><div> </div><div> </div>*starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11367491788563927380noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23691001.post-71389845598569737132011-12-22T11:36:00.000-08:002011-12-22T11:45:34.555-08:00The Hobbit<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1JjJW2jIVYtm6lv9vNFcKhrAQFmgd6C-PZZbkfF58yHq1uNb8RCVj-pmys4T3qpf4zHb2Y8cjV92LY0vaMF8Yl0Mk22z8MvYi0nncFoq0ikz8MS6fa9MGL5aDkxCzzVIBFv_x/s1600/The-Hobbit.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 265px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1JjJW2jIVYtm6lv9vNFcKhrAQFmgd6C-PZZbkfF58yHq1uNb8RCVj-pmys4T3qpf4zHb2Y8cjV92LY0vaMF8Yl0Mk22z8MvYi0nncFoq0ikz8MS6fa9MGL5aDkxCzzVIBFv_x/s320/The-Hobbit.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689041023173523346" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here's something, if you are as nerdy as I am, that will please you immensely.<br /><br />They've put out a trailer for the first Hobbit movie:<br /><br /><a href="http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/wb/thehobbit/">http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/wb/thehobbit/</a><br /><br />Suffice to say that I loved the books and the other movies with all the pieces of my crooked little heart, so I am ridiculously excited for the next movies.<br /><br />Also, I like the actor they've chosen for Bilbo. I've seen him in another show, and I think he'll be able to portray Bilbo's fussy worrying quite well.<br /><br />Unfortunately, they won't be releasing the movie for an entire year. December 2012.<br /><br />I guess that means if we all survive the end of the Mayan calendar, we can go to the movies to celebrate.*starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11367491788563927380noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23691001.post-69003757527297562282011-12-19T15:37:00.000-08:002011-12-19T15:54:43.437-08:00So GoodYesterday, I was reading a book. I got to a part where the scene was so good that I dropped the book and slapped my hand over my mouth. For half of a second I was a little shocked when the movie inside of my head cut off. Then I remembered that I was reading, so therefore, if I wanted to know what happened next, I'd need to actually hold onto the book. <div><br /></div><div>Yeah, that kind of reading is fun. </div>*starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11367491788563927380noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23691001.post-37030121647716426692011-12-07T06:32:00.001-08:002011-12-07T07:28:19.993-08:00Taking FlightSomeone: So, what did you do yesterday?<br /><br />Me: I flew an airplane. <br /><br />I really want to have this conversation with someone. Because I totally flew an airplane yesterday.<br /><br />Best Parts in Random Order:<br /> 1. I drove almost the entire time. Immediately after take-off, the pilot said, "Here, you drive. I'm going to try to get a picture of this." And he craned around to try to get a picture of the sunset with his cell phone. <br />2. I drove the plane up Provo Canyon, around the backside of Timp, and down American Fork Canyon. Never been shoulder to shoulder with a mountain like that!<br />3. My instructor taught me some "pilot maneuvers" like stalling the plane in midair and 45 degree turns.<br />4. Then we tried to make me sick. Rolling ups and downs where we tried to float a crumbled up ball of paper in the cockpit.<br />5. I landed the plane. <br /><br />Holy cow, guys. I highly recommend this. <br /><br />Thanks a zillion, siblings, for making it happen!*starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11367491788563927380noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23691001.post-19572139261701361732011-11-26T12:29:00.000-08:002011-11-26T12:34:54.831-08:00Advice From A Man Who Doesn't SpeakWell <a href="http://youtu.be/QcvjoWOwnn4">said</a>, Charlie.*starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11367491788563927380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23691001.post-5843615345333787742011-11-01T15:23:00.001-07:002011-11-01T15:32:39.629-07:00"What a Kid Is"My class is reading Jerry Spinelli's "Loser" right now. There is a line in one of the chapters--in the middle of the unlikely hero's selfless quest--that sticks out to me each year. It describes the time when the main character's little sister ran away:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">"But in the end she stopped. Funny thing, she never slowed down, she just stopped, in the middle of the street. She stopped and turned and looked at him and his father and just plopped her apples right down on the street, one car coming to a stop, another swinging around them.<br /><br />She had been utterly pleased with herself. "I runned away!" she chirped, and the sun was no match for her smile. <span style="font-weight: bold;">And Zinkoff saw in that moment something that he had no words for. He saw that a kid runs to be found and jumps to be caught. That's what being a kid is: found, caught." </span><br /></div><br />Found. Caught.<br /><br />There may be something to that.*starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11367491788563927380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23691001.post-1842114199433646052011-08-03T15:00:00.000-07:002011-08-03T16:11:47.645-07:00Getting Lost<span style="font-weight: bold;">Warning: This is a long, wordy post about a mundane, unimportant topic in which I air my opinions simply for my own gratification. No one should feel obliged to actually read it. </span><br /><br />I'm vaguely embarrassed about writing this.<br /><br />After all, writing entire blog posts about television shows that everyone else finished with years ago hardly seems like a worthwhile use of my time. But, as I have a tendency to subscribe to the "Big Gulp" philosophy of entertainment, I've been a bit fixated lately. And I would like an outlet.<br /><br />So here we are.<br /><br />I've been watching Lost--you know, the television show? I didn't watch it when it was actually on, not even when my friends recommended it repeatedly.<br /><br />I <span style="font-style: italic;">tried</span> watching the first season on DVD while grading papers during my first year teaching, but that didn't work out very well. I was already seriously, seriously stressed out ALL the time... watching Lost to "relax" was a little less than relaxing.<br /><br />But lately I've had some time on my hands, so I thought I'd give it a try.<br /><br />My hat goes off to the writers. Very effective. I've cheered, cried, yelled profanities at the screen, and very nearly thrown the computer across the room. (I blame that last piece of near-violence on Ben. I hate him.) As I said, very effective.<br /><br />But here's the rub... I'm starting to get scared that it's going to spiral out of control. The longer a television or book series goes on, the larger the plot becomes. The great writers still manage to hold on to all the pieces, and end up with a strong, credible ending. But sometimes, the writers lose control of their own beast. It gets too big. They start losing track of the details. They start leaving things out, making big leaps, having characters do things that are contrary to the development they've been given. And in doing these things, the writers accidentally "pop the bubble."<br /><br />It was my high school drama teacher who explained about the bubble. Actors, writers, their job is to put you in a bubble where you get to spend a little time somewhere else. You're supposed to forget you're at the theater. On your couch. Wherever. You're supposed to be sucked in, so that at the end, when you do finally remember where you actually are, you feel like, "Whoa. That's right. I'm sitting on my couch. I am not in the middle of the jungle being chased by a polar bear."<br /><br />That's good writing/acting.<br /><br />So, when something goes wrong, when (for whatever reason) the bubble pops prematurely, the audience feels disappointed and distracted, and it takes time to get back into the story.<br /><br />Oh sure, there are always those stray thoughts ('Where do they keep getting all of these tarps? I mean, seriously. Who even HAS tarps on an airplane?' or 'They've been there for three months... and Kate still doesn't need to pluck her eyebrows?') but those are easily ignored. It's when the story itself <span style="font-style: italic;">gets lost</span> that your "bubble" takes the hit.<br /><br />I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. It's those moments when you're going through a story and something happens that just feels <span style="font-weight: bold;">wrong</span>. I'm not talking about conflict, or surprises, or difficult emotions--we actually <span style="font-style: italic;">like </span>those. I'm talking about when something occurs, and you stop, and your brain goes, "...what? That wouldn't happen." And POP! You are out of the bubble.<br /><br />It's disappointing every time.<br /><br />So far, Lost has hung in there! Bubble intact. The writers are great, the actors are very effective, and I've totally been sucked in. But I know where it's going next. Trippy time travel, alternate universe sort of stuff.<br /><br />I'm crossing my fingers that the writers can keep it together. They already have SO MANY questions to answer, and I'm only halfway through. Three more seasons of this and the plot is going to be HUMONGOUS. Regardless, I'm REALLY hoping I get to stay in the bubble. Cuz so far, it's been quite the ride.<br /><br />Don't tell me what happens, okay?*starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11367491788563927380noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23691001.post-8556139941314454082011-07-29T12:29:00.000-07:002011-07-29T13:01:58.881-07:00Advice for Life on the River<div style="text-align: center;">Proverbs 22:6: <br />Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOtpBLe-YwLbfJxuIhA-Adc4mgi9cFBIxtKB6B8rJMUWbRbrNEoC7DTu8M70JK8rXSRUtBxV9179Q5sykWwbGvdf7a2KfodzgczjujSZnq8_7Cm-0jWYEAv_c5raMloVZg226/s1600/263396_2182670457158_1558869984_2275491_1224303_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOtpBLe-YwLbfJxuIhA-Adc4mgi9cFBIxtKB6B8rJMUWbRbrNEoC7DTu8M70JK8rXSRUtBxV9179Q5sykWwbGvdf7a2KfodzgczjujSZnq8_7Cm-0jWYEAv_c5raMloVZg226/s320/263396_2182670457158_1558869984_2275491_1224303_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634859397514606290" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bHbFUQ1Fv8omPoqavrLZZ1nW_gfUEG6a-r9FlSn-1XTC8BrbYCMwFOz9k_HoxP758-e58JS4uFQvq7icnkyG5wUcEyT1L-QI_P4uITVUBRoF64rkU5rJxpiWpxR1ZBNsXTEg/s1600/280389_2182670057148_1558869984_2275489_7494230_o.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bHbFUQ1Fv8omPoqavrLZZ1nW_gfUEG6a-r9FlSn-1XTC8BrbYCMwFOz9k_HoxP758-e58JS4uFQvq7icnkyG5wUcEyT1L-QI_P4uITVUBRoF64rkU5rJxpiWpxR1ZBNsXTEg/s320/280389_2182670057148_1558869984_2275489_7494230_o.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634859544447967922" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYBiwMgzHN2phxunt4Q3eh1uLLC7ea8WzXzgUnKUQ6BVajJtQfk0JoVRpHIB0XAqXXdeI-mknEym-WV8HN7MtOggnog0ekGOsOPnuCCRVS9u0zIvfswfxP3Y4aLFBhevm13O_/s1600/223616_2182669457133_1558869984_2275488_3042423_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYBiwMgzHN2phxunt4Q3eh1uLLC7ea8WzXzgUnKUQ6BVajJtQfk0JoVRpHIB0XAqXXdeI-mknEym-WV8HN7MtOggnog0ekGOsOPnuCCRVS9u0zIvfswfxP3Y4aLFBhevm13O_/s320/223616_2182669457133_1558869984_2275488_3042423_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634859900741506770" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpxY2Sx0FyxrGh3IdH0qwH8-VjxLRJtm_wswCQYTcs0Lo5BvMB-I-9ZXdaX5TGALG1xPNOKazZ3iE06-sL51HLwReqcVXeZrbzewZsi029RPj7FjZi1CNvECaj-znLgORM_P-/s1600/285026_2182682057448_1558869984_2275530_7741953_n%25282%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpxY2Sx0FyxrGh3IdH0qwH8-VjxLRJtm_wswCQYTcs0Lo5BvMB-I-9ZXdaX5TGALG1xPNOKazZ3iE06-sL51HLwReqcVXeZrbzewZsi029RPj7FjZi1CNvECaj-znLgORM_P-/s320/285026_2182682057448_1558869984_2275530_7741953_n%25282%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634860367781457874" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBAzgHUJh0mH8FwzKGNRJ8UHRibxqyKDlULcSS0H_qIFi2WBIp6-cDFDQy_ZqC9PXiB-2eKpx-kUwXqkBad4mvl9XKMv4rJS-n-oB80eJVYsi6dam7zlXpMF7u4bc2MPGp08K/s1600/252191_2182669137125_1558869984_2275487_4774943_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBAzgHUJh0mH8FwzKGNRJ8UHRibxqyKDlULcSS0H_qIFi2WBIp6-cDFDQy_ZqC9PXiB-2eKpx-kUwXqkBad4mvl9XKMv4rJS-n-oB80eJVYsi6dam7zlXpMF7u4bc2MPGp08K/s320/252191_2182669137125_1558869984_2275487_4774943_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634860782397005682" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">My thoughts, midflip? Clear as a bell:<br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Don't drop the paddle. </span><br />After all those years of safety talks, you could say I have been <span style="font-style: italic;">thoroughly</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">trained! </span><br />My dad would be so proud.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Pictures courtesy of Mark Hoza and Brother Durd.<br />Panther Creek Rapid, Salmon River, Idaho</span><br /><br /></div>*starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11367491788563927380noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23691001.post-82866047702843021552011-06-09T18:16:00.000-07:002011-06-09T18:25:01.750-07:00UnexpectedToday was the last day of school. When the bell rang to dismiss for summer, I was fully anticipating the usual war whoops and shrieks of delight. Instead, much to my surprise, half the class BURST INTO TEARS! No kidding! I just stood there, totally aghast, as my sixth graders had an all out bawl fest. The girls desperately hugging each other, as stripes of mascara dripped to their chins. The boys, red-faced, knuckling their eyes (one boy out and out sobbing), slapping each other on the shoulder and back. <br /><br />I was totally beside myself.<br /><br />The problem, I do realize, is that a chunk of the class will not be returning to NSA for middle school. But that happens every year.<br /><br />Crying about summer vacation?<br /><br />That's got to be a first.*starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11367491788563927380noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23691001.post-42464350101777502402011-04-13T14:52:00.000-07:002011-04-13T14:54:07.409-07:00Borrowed from a friend<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> 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mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Batik Regular"; color: white;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">I want movement and not a calm course of existence. I want excitement and danger and the chance to sacrifice myself for my love. I feel in myself a superabundance of energy which finds<span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);"> </span>no outlet in a quiet life. Leo Tolstoy</span></span></p>*starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11367491788563927380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23691001.post-12198144313131948882011-03-28T20:08:00.001-07:002011-03-28T20:08:16.985-07:00Dwelling<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVg4SoYfmq4EWlApNc95ISob1qe56WE54gh8Me6SQwSn4fQIWTbVwPWM8AUiXlJNQGzHzZ7rnUdZjsRfrQZCocm0nBPB5TyGCFFmsGkEE0I6YUdBnN_YdwlvnGYko_F0KWvdG/s1600/DSC03253.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVg4SoYfmq4EWlApNc95ISob1qe56WE54gh8Me6SQwSn4fQIWTbVwPWM8AUiXlJNQGzHzZ7rnUdZjsRfrQZCocm0nBPB5TyGCFFmsGkEE0I6YUdBnN_YdwlvnGYko_F0KWvdG/s320/DSC03253.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589332456346751650" border="0" /></a><br />Last Friday, I took my very first "I'm so frustrated I can't stand to be here any longer without punching someone" day off.<br /><br />There were a myriad of reasons. But I won't dwell.<br /><br />Instead, in an attempt to put things in perspective, I decided to dwell on other things today.<br /><br />Like how nice it is to use the snooze button. I never did this--not in high school, not in college--because I thought it was abominably rude of people to wake everyone else up several times instead of just the once. But now that it's just me, I can snooze as much as I like! 40 minutes worth of snooze buttoning!<br /><br />Like how my fabulous, fabulous teacher's aide tidied my desk for me when I was gone on Friday.<br /><br />Like how that one student finally (yes FINALLY) raised her hand to ask a question!<br /><br />Like how much I like Harmon's. Yeah, the grocery store. They're superior. They have nice produce. They have not one, but three different brands of marscapone cheese! And to top it all off... they were selling SALTED CARMEL GELATO. I know. I know.<br /><br />Tomorrow I'm going to dwell on corned beef and cabbage. Want to come and dwell too?*starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11367491788563927380noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23691001.post-12010486123529605332011-01-21T17:05:00.001-08:002011-01-21T17:26:53.276-08:00TodayToday was the sort of day when I realize why it's sometimes a good idea to cut people some slack. There is really only so many things a brain can do before it simply gives up.<br /><br />So, here is today's list set in my neck of the woods.<br /><br />Today I:<br /><ul><li>Woke up at 4:30.</li></ul><ul><li>Went to Walmart to shop for clusters AND the party.</li></ul><ul><li>Arrived at work early (but not early enough). </li></ul><ul><li>Briefed a coworker on an IEP.<br /></li></ul><ul><li>Prepped a Study Island assessment.</li></ul><ul><li>Held a class reteach in math so my students could take their math test.</li></ul><ul><li>Held a one-on-one reteach with a student who struggled.</li></ul><ul><li>Graded the history tests.</li></ul><ul><li>Graded student presentations on their literature projects.</li></ul><ul><li>Presented a lesson from our Core Knowledge curriculum. </li></ul><ul><li>Gave a spelling test.</li></ul><ul><li>Lead a cross-curricular activity to try to fit more Social Studies curriculum into Language Arts while also tapping into the outcomes of my students' Interest Surveys by presenting it in a manner that allowed them to perform.</li></ul><ul><li>Made extra copies of the party schedule and stuffed them in the designated station bags.</li></ul><ul><li>Had the technology teacher show me how to disable the filter so I could play music at the party.</li></ul><ul><li>Created a playlist of music from the 50s for the musical chairs station.</li></ul><ul><li>Checked in my students 2nd set of biography fact cards.</li></ul><ul><li>Introduced the Tournament of Champions, had the students choose which role in our classroom medieval village they would like to assume, and judged a contest which determined where our village would be located.</li></ul><ul><li>Started the charcoal (using my charcoal chimney) out on the asphalt.</li></ul><ul><li>Taught cluster kids how to make banana boats and dutch oven cobbler.</li></ul><ul><li>Cooked the food.<br /></li></ul><ul><li>RAN into the building at the closing bell, and handed out last minute supplies for the party.</li></ul><ul><li>Threw a party for 165 elementary students, which involved 7 different stations from 7 different time periods, complete with treats and prizes. Served cookies at the door on the way out.<br /></li></ul><ul><li>Stayed to finish next week's Learning Plan.</li></ul><ul><li>Drove home.</li></ul>My next plan is to eat. I'm totally going to eat chips and dip for dinner. And no one is going to stop me.*starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11367491788563927380noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23691001.post-13765587721148658022011-01-19T20:30:00.000-08:002011-01-19T20:32:27.995-08:00The Amazing Technicolor RussellFavorite Russell moment of the week:<br /><br />Russell swathed in my Ikea rainbow-striped blanket, spinning around my living room, belting fragments of songs from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat while dragging a string under his foot for the cats to attack.<br /><br />Awesome.*starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11367491788563927380noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23691001.post-53081336978600865962011-01-05T21:04:00.001-08:002011-01-05T21:19:31.751-08:00GrandMy family embarked on an epic road trip this holiday season. One of our first stops was the Grand Canyon. Now, I've seen the Grand Canyon from a distance, but I've never<span style="font-style: italic;"> been </span>there. So, I give you the Grand Canyon!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFl-Ev9fclYfiUzx-grkVzYkwRHNtiCbjWcqnDgW29Kmyz0fI8jqRybomzmYY8eAPi_rW3u5gHKq7Em07fCXxvEMH3zFCaFdaSnYOpp2dpFFFffDJKY1vQwWc-YA8X7wRXJ_-t/s1600/DSC03170.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFl-Ev9fclYfiUzx-grkVzYkwRHNtiCbjWcqnDgW29Kmyz0fI8jqRybomzmYY8eAPi_rW3u5gHKq7Em07fCXxvEMH3zFCaFdaSnYOpp2dpFFFffDJKY1vQwWc-YA8X7wRXJ_-t/s320/DSC03170.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558934725524319170" border="0" /></a>Yeah. Did I mention it was cloudy?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-yscGilVzsn5b7iW0b9oLmp7eN85asX4RPFGuPwyDuY-2c0SWrDrJmdpYsy3c6YJLxxWV4GL2OxWRd20SyoThMNlMhqp0RdC6anlmXYDWvtzyktzaykSxwA9D_uLHLisGGu4/s1600/DSC03172.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-yscGilVzsn5b7iW0b9oLmp7eN85asX4RPFGuPwyDuY-2c0SWrDrJmdpYsy3c6YJLxxWV4GL2OxWRd20SyoThMNlMhqp0RdC6anlmXYDWvtzyktzaykSxwA9D_uLHLisGGu4/s320/DSC03172.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558936104033262402" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">So we visited the Watch Tower and took a lot of pictures instead.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWN9ijQLOFa9sdQsvMmZ2Y8KQGEQ5BL5T5TkC8tzIs9SrDGd1g_Wqc3CEqA5WJzan3sgMsR9nSjs4Ugbg7qhzKBM4kDYgyVjJRAWSZWQtK28cSuZbugdoVstTLQBKuHwxafC1S/s1600/DSC03173.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWN9ijQLOFa9sdQsvMmZ2Y8KQGEQ5BL5T5TkC8tzIs9SrDGd1g_Wqc3CEqA5WJzan3sgMsR9nSjs4Ugbg7qhzKBM4kDYgyVjJRAWSZWQtK28cSuZbugdoVstTLQBKuHwxafC1S/s320/DSC03173.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558936681388733202" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3nNWJGqCsdmyi06GxIuDTM-EzYa3KneGf0qoJmUEddpgNkoqk9pqEo9FBl4UU0hHJuXDN2iz4Y7fu0_WGDUOmv8jKqCQojdDZMp2kYL8PUyARAxrrCChLa6yBprUlzGjdB35N/s1600/DSC03180.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3nNWJGqCsdmyi06GxIuDTM-EzYa3KneGf0qoJmUEddpgNkoqk9pqEo9FBl4UU0hHJuXDN2iz4Y7fu0_WGDUOmv8jKqCQojdDZMp2kYL8PUyARAxrrCChLa6yBprUlzGjdB35N/s320/DSC03180.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558937164858498994" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjIjexrRrr9_lTQjXfW2rzpSzxwI42fMQVHUidqwiTp1ST-7H3IGw1OQkTx7sAF6GvK4zF95lOrJ2XpMyLZLlxCnFaO35NriflW8o-AuIHfzmeApX-btgoL_7KX3bYwjL-ZZ6/s1600/DSC03174.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjIjexrRrr9_lTQjXfW2rzpSzxwI42fMQVHUidqwiTp1ST-7H3IGw1OQkTx7sAF6GvK4zF95lOrJ2XpMyLZLlxCnFaO35NriflW8o-AuIHfzmeApX-btgoL_7KX3bYwjL-ZZ6/s320/DSC03174.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558937864925070178" border="0" /></a><br />Maybe next time...<br /></div></div>*starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11367491788563927380noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23691001.post-80802419388786655482010-12-28T10:19:00.000-08:002011-08-03T23:57:20.243-07:00AeroplanoLast night, I flew out of San Diego headed for Sacramento. My sister dropped me off just after 6 o'clock pm. I was pleasantly surprised that the lines for both check-in and security were relatively short and moving quickly.<br /><br />I arrived at my gate about twenty minutes later.<br /><br />And I finally got on the airplane at 10:20 pm. Then we sat in the plane until 11:00 pm, because they could not find anyone to load the baggage. (Really.) Which meant I finally reached Russ's house at about 2:00 this morning.<br /><br />Now, the point of this post is not to gripe about holiday travel. Really, I just bought a book at the airport gift shop, and read for several hours. (Big personal sacrifice.) The point IS that whenever I surfaced from my reading material, I took stock of how my fellow passengers were holding up.<br /><br />Based on several hours of observation, I have found that there are key "types" of passengers.<br /><br />Type #1: The Hostiles. With each announcement--delayed, delayed, broken plane, problem with the luggage--these people became snarkier and louder. Specifically, there were two guys sitting behind me that let out a string of expletives one expletive longer each time the airline representatives made another announcement.<br /><br />Type#2: The Martyrs. While these people weren't shouting or cursing, the corners of their mouths were dipping lower and lower with each passing hour. By 11:00, some of these people had become true facial contortionists.<br /><br />Type #3: The Deer in Headlights. This group was largely made of parents with young children. Their faces slowly drained of all emotion, and their glassy eyes stared straight ahead as Junior sprawled unconscious across the airport floor or shrieked murder from his stroller.<br /><br />Type #4: The Smirkers. There were several of these, and I liked watching them the most. They were the ones that cast sly sideways glances, quirked their lips sideways in bemusement, and maybe even let out a scrappy chuckle or two. There was one lady in particular who really seemed to think the situation got funnier and funnier as the evening went on.<br /><br />I'm not sure why I felt compelled to expose you all to my mini Sociology experiment. I just thought I could take a lesson from the lady from group #4.<br /><br />To be fair, I guess I should say there was also the fifth type:<br /><br />Type #5: Girls who are so distracted by the book they are reading that they only realize an announcement is being made when it's already 2/3 of the way over. These girls then have to judge whether it was a good announcement or a bad announcement based on the reactions of the people sitting around them. So they stare. And then they blog about it.*starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11367491788563927380noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23691001.post-19547241145143414032010-12-09T20:44:00.000-08:002010-12-09T20:56:40.704-08:00Overly InvestedSometimes, I am absolutely ridiculous.<br /><br />I have a problem--there are times when books, or television shows, or movies affect me a little too much. <br /><br />When something sad happens, I feel sad. And then I can't shake it for a while. My mind just turns it over and over, and I find myself trying to put words to the emotions that I witnessed. As if by writing them down--even mentally--I might somehow better understand it. <br /><br />I just finished watching a show on tv, and I'm feeling embarrassingly distraught. <br /><br />I guess this is why I will never be a counselor, doctor, or social worker; I'd be a pathetic heap of sobbing blubber by the end of the first week.<br /><br />Maybe I ought to work on that.*starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11367491788563927380noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23691001.post-26460143920483342042010-11-23T16:55:00.000-08:002010-11-23T17:19:13.998-08:00Anticipating PrecipitatingA blizzard is coming.<br /><br />That's the word they keep using for it: blizzard.<br /><br />From the moment I stepped out of the house this morning, everyone has been talking about it.<br /><br />It's on the radio. It's waiting in my email in-box. It's the topic of special faculty meetings and teacher lunch tables. It's written on big flashing signs along I-15.<br /><br />Blizzard.<br /><br />In the grocery store parking lot, I watched each shopper tilt his or her chin way up, trying to read the storm clouds.<br /><br />We're watching.<br /><br />The world is battening down the hatches.<br /><br />And I'm inexplicably excited about this whole thing.<br /><br />Is it strange that if it doesn't snow, I'm going to be really disappointed?<br /><br />Come on, clouds. We're holding our breath.*starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11367491788563927380noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23691001.post-20710478335249354422010-11-13T10:51:00.000-08:002010-11-13T13:14:11.591-08:00Getting NoticedMy sister and I recently visited Sea World. We were at the sea lion exhibit, and I bought a tray of fish. Sunshine pointed out one sea lion that seemed particularly "well-behaved." The others were growling, barking, gargling, and literally trying to climb the plexi-glass to get our attention. This one just sat on his rock, looking as if he were posing for a Sea World calendar.<br /><br />Right up until he decided he wanted a fish.<br /><br />Remember that scene from Dumb and Dumber? The one with the "most annoying sound in the world?"<br /><br />Oh yeah. Don't be fooled by all the strange sounds on the clip. You'll know it when you hear it.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dylmKZJIi4GkecGVaedKsAv57evAd5lBvS1jyBxENNuauXzgHhW5fIfv_rB5nJjQsWBbI7dyHS66Sc' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />I gotta say, it worked for him. He probably got half of my tray of fish.<br /><br />Also, when they tell you to watch out for the birds, they mean it. I was hit in the head by birds four different times that day, and Sunshine actually had a sea gull swoop down and bite her finger hard enough to draw blood!*starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11367491788563927380noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23691001.post-19541967437103656002010-10-27T22:33:00.000-07:002010-10-28T06:16:33.068-07:00Bragging RightsYep. That's right! These fantastic people are in MY family!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzz89MQlt0Gj7THXKYhz4bp8uQNm9wUFSqjAhAMOHAwIYvbQttBBEsGG-oMVaS24xBzBOBQOQkA0gk3tQhqWtpuLIdOsaugilPf2dNE2UWroHKt5cqgyxsHCNTZTo38qwsFrY-/s1600/DSC03076.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzz89MQlt0Gj7THXKYhz4bp8uQNm9wUFSqjAhAMOHAwIYvbQttBBEsGG-oMVaS24xBzBOBQOQkA0gk3tQhqWtpuLIdOsaugilPf2dNE2UWroHKt5cqgyxsHCNTZTo38qwsFrY-/s320/DSC03076.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532966649380251410" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQt_KVUSxO3GTG0VoSzHeouMnU2kpKkoCh1rLcU5dP-JvF6BK5BSavq7695npYmDPt1WKNhwqpKdgog2fGQnz7Yb_04WgRt09mET9bEscHGl_vD9UCcGyexb9yqPrZXuq11HyZ/s1600/062.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQt_KVUSxO3GTG0VoSzHeouMnU2kpKkoCh1rLcU5dP-JvF6BK5BSavq7695npYmDPt1WKNhwqpKdgog2fGQnz7Yb_04WgRt09mET9bEscHGl_vD9UCcGyexb9yqPrZXuq11HyZ/s320/062.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532968242917766466" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2uZU5YAwTt-OSHbXf6dDg-OOPIaUCnFPGPwJOz2LaoincRM8wkB-6vWgmi8h2L2jpMfRQVArrwJ8rxX7di_lnW1ngSFaWf-fHwdxY3XhXz7f8Uy-OBYTmVoyWd5q2DWJcA_y/s1600/060.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2uZU5YAwTt-OSHbXf6dDg-OOPIaUCnFPGPwJOz2LaoincRM8wkB-6vWgmi8h2L2jpMfRQVArrwJ8rxX7di_lnW1ngSFaWf-fHwdxY3XhXz7f8Uy-OBYTmVoyWd5q2DWJcA_y/s320/060.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532968593629725506" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsoBs80iBfJ1Bl0lRUoAXCzOohV9WEklmvogfGpYP8uFJ8Na5dNTGk3H3lJc4uRLTbNV_r6jS2ODsj9FQ8sXKMIw_6sOzAwKnkVddSdyjlD8mNnqHVWAypOOkDKkfUV0pOUveh/s1600/050.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsoBs80iBfJ1Bl0lRUoAXCzOohV9WEklmvogfGpYP8uFJ8Na5dNTGk3H3lJc4uRLTbNV_r6jS2ODsj9FQ8sXKMIw_6sOzAwKnkVddSdyjlD8mNnqHVWAypOOkDKkfUV0pOUveh/s320/050.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532969142937843586" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC367j30YumrRmlf9ujQkdF-RXpC4ivJwKxigJ5N7Rgtanu-4msw290L_LshNgk0MPG3Co9LTwF-Ky7MNIw7ylKUrR3IjWaQzq4NSSQBs8vBGuEYvLt0MpZ3j6ghAhWAtz9VwV/s1600/DSC03087.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC367j30YumrRmlf9ujQkdF-RXpC4ivJwKxigJ5N7Rgtanu-4msw290L_LshNgk0MPG3Co9LTwF-Ky7MNIw7ylKUrR3IjWaQzq4NSSQBs8vBGuEYvLt0MpZ3j6ghAhWAtz9VwV/s320/DSC03087.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532969754474578274" border="0" /></a>*starhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11367491788563927380noreply@blogger.com2