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Wednesday, November 29, 2006 Honey, Carol Ann's on the Line Something got into by phone and it went bad. It just started to go and off again at random, and play its annoying little ditty each and every time it felt like it. Convinced it was possessed by some naughty little gremlins, I decided to take it to one of the local vendors to get it fixed. And I made a good call, too – the repair person was none other a witch herself, and although she was unable to clean my phone, she was able to transfer its soul (ie all those saved numbers) into another phone. It just goes to show that the maxim about magic and technology is still alive and well today. So much so, in fact, that I have determined that the next time time my computer crashes, I’m calling these guys:  Labels: Modern Life ------------------------------------------------
Monday, November 27, 2006 Tremble before the Terrifying Tryptophantom! We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. It was potluck at our, and Michael, Ligia, and Michal joined us for the holiday. We celbrated the ability to come together as an extended family, and learned many life lessons:
 Thanks to everyone who made out Thanksgiving at home memorable and for proving to us that we can throw a low-key party that people will enjoy – even with kids underfoot. Labels: Holiday Daze, My Heroes Have Always Worn Spandex, Sheer Awesome, The Secret of Fire, Who the Hell is Bill Wambsganss ------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, November 22, 2006 Grand Theft Auto: Newberry Newberry had its own little crime spree last week. Someone apparently went around the neighborhoods and found the unlocked cars and absconded with whatever they could take. Regrettably, this included us, although asll they got was the spare monitor for the DVD player in the van. I narrowed it down to the two most likely suspects:  After all, anyone could tell it was either the work of a brilliant mastermind or a no-account deadbeat crook. Turned out to to be the latter – two high school kids committed the dirty deeds. They were that unique combination of brave and stupid, as they decided to steal guns…straight out of an unlocked Alachua County police cruiser! Maybe comparing them to Slyde is being too generous…this seems to be more in line with the criminal genius of this smart-dressed individual:  ------------------------------------------------
Everyday in a Galaxy, Far, Far Away  It seems everywhere I looks these days, Star Wars has definitely taken its place as a permanent fixture in the pop culture landscape. It’s the cinematic equivalent of a Tootsie Roll. Cases in point:The new Target ad has Lambda shuttles flying in formation depositing snowflakes across the typical Target-inspired Dali landscape. The local television station is running an ad looking for sales representatives. For no reason among their images of camera operators and boom mikes, there’s a five second shot of Han Solo shooting down TIE fighters from the Falcon. A promo for college football, also on that station, shows one fan wearing a Stormtrooper uniform – in his team’s colors. Finally,an Animal Planet special on close shaves for nature photographers shows us an underwater filmmaker who decided to base his squid protection gear on that of the Stormtrooper. Didn’t he ever watch the movies? If it can’t even deflect a blaster bolt, what good will it do against a kraken? Labels: Hooray for Hollywood, Star Wars ------------------------------------------------
Saturday, November 18, 2006 Hurl Harbor  TBS runs a promo for Pearl Harbor that says “before they were great fighters, they were also great lovers.” I’d like to think this statement was written by a staff member that holds this film with as much contempt as I. Labels: Hooray for Hollywood, Movies, My Cinematic 2 Cents ------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, November 15, 2006 Zany, Crazy, G-Rated Fun It’s important at time to let off steam. I think zany stunts are the way to do it. Not zany as in Jackass, but zany as in funny and that doesn’t involve pain. Here’s a couple of ideas I have been bandying about:  Flash Gordon's Day I’ve been inspired by my turn as Vultan for Halloween. Wouldn’t it be great is we could turn Flash Gordon into a Shakespeare-in-the-Park type play, performed once a year with a live band providing backup for Queen’s score. To promote it, hawkmen go around canvas the few weeks before the event, proclaiming the date to be "Flash Gordon’s Day!". I think this would be an awesome event on college campuses everywhere.  Random Acts of ChasingPeople love a great chase. Dress as Hana Barbera Wasky Racers, Spy versus Spy, or Stormtroopers and Rebels (this is an awesome and cheap outfit, by the by)…anything that gets peoples attention and will bring a smile to your face. Better yet, try and get large groups of similarly themed people to chase each other around. Best bets: Pirates versus Ninjas, or Monkeys versus Roboto. Everyone loves 'em.  Highlander: The GameThis idea kind of combines the top two. Based on the Assassin game, players have to walk about carrying concealed toy or SCA-like pvp swords. Players are issued the cell phone number of their target, but are not given their name or what they look like. The attacker can call their target on their phone and describe where they are (this mimics the Quickening – especially if the phones are set to vibrate). Once they have sought each other out, the two must sword duel until one ‘beheads’ the other, and inherits their immortal target. Of course, said sword fight should happen in a deserted locale or people will freak, just like in Assassin. ------------------------------------------------
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Thursday, November 30, 2006 A Down-sized Christmas I was just talking to my MIL last night, telling her that more than gifts, we wanted them to come visit, and trying to emphasize that. I know it is easier to just buy stuff and send it (if you have the money), but we don't need it! I like simplicity, and I love that Parker makes Star Wars battle scenes with MegaBlocks, instead of having so many Star Wars vehicles he can do it with those. I like the inspired creativity that NOT having it ALL brings. We already have too much. Jeff and I are going to pare it down somehow, and just get one or two BIG gifts, mainly useful things. We're going to Disney, and annual passes are our gift from my parents. That's it in total. It'll be a small Christmas in terms of presents under the tree, but it'll be a big one in terms of adventure and love. Labels: Christmas, Parker, simplicity ------------------------------------------------
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It's ironic. I'm all about paring down the items in the house (I've even started to say maybe I can get rid of some comic books - SHOCKER!), and yet I'm still having to fight myself everytime I see an awesome toy and I have an overwhelming urge to have it - just because. Wednesday, November 29, 2006 About Sickness and Kids So, we're in week 3 of sickness (which I just misspelled suckness, and I'm not sure why I changed!!) We've had a few bouts of "okay", but we're now in full-blown yucky over here! Parker still has a bad cough (though it gets better every day), Jeff is so miserable he's staying home tomorrow (all the better to try and get ME sick, I believe), and Kira is snotty and sweaty, and just ... blech! I really can't wait for wellness to come back. I am just hoping that we can all stay well for the week of/after Christmas when we're at Disney!!! I'm longing to be back in the "land of the living". For those of you whose children are in school, how much time have they had to be out because of sickness? What are your school's policies on NOT coming to school? I honestly can't imagine if Parker were in school ... he'd have missed 1/4 to 1/3 of all classes so far!! And the thought that being in a school setting builds one's immune system is valid, unless you have an underlying issue, like asthma, that means repeated ER trips, steroids, breathing up to 60 times a minute, etc. Every time someone around Parker gets sick, he does, and it is 50 times worse. He's been sick plenty and should have an awesome immune system, but his lungs protest. Kira has rarely been sick, in fact when she gets sick it is so minor in comparison to Parker, that Jeff and I honestly are amazed each and every time. In terms of this time, no, we haven't taken him in, but we've been in contact with the doctor's office, and it hasn't been for three weeks straight. It was for 3 days, 4 days well (Thurs thru Sun) -- Week 1. Starting to get sick for 1.5 days, then lethargy and illness for .5 day with high fever, and then 2 days of recovery (and to make sure he wasn't still contagious, and wasn't compromised immune to immediately catch something else), and three days of well (Fri thru Sun) -- Week 2. Then, well-ish for 2 days (occasional cough/sneeze), then moderate fever end of day 3, sick day 4 (Thanksgiving) including a 3-hour nap, cough for the rest of that week and into this one -- Week 3/4. In terms of possible allergens, we do have many potential allergens (cats, carpets, stuffed animals), but the only thing that triggers him is getting sick. He always has the cold first. Once his coughing starts, it quickly progresses to rapid breathing that often won't calm down. He's never had issues with anything else, and the one time we thought he was having an issue with running around in the cold here (it was in the lower 50s), he was sick with fever the next day, so it was more than likely the combination of already having a virus along with the activity and cold. Our pediatrician considers him to have mild intermittent asthma, and doesn't feel it would be in his best interest, or proactive to have him on any maintenance medications. He actually said the best thing to do is try to keep him away from other sick kids! Like that is possible!! Labels: health, homeschooling, Jeff, Kira, Parker ------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, November 28, 2006 Bartering for Services? We are in contact with a mosaic artist who needs all sorts of promotional work done, with no budget (as most of our clients seem to be ... feels kinda good, though, helping a new entrepreneur!!). We were thinking of providing her with our services for equivalent value of her work .... we've only briefly mentioned it, and need to think more of how it would work. We also are in the process of starting a branding project with a Commercial Contracting service, and were thinking of bartering our services for "Handyman" type services .... again, not sure how it would work. Labels: community, Union Design Photo ------------------------------------------------
Monday, November 27, 2006 BOO to Dr. Phil Did you know Dr. Phil now airs at night? Well, the other night, Jeff and I stopped on it because Dr. Phil is talking about the "Great School Debate", and had some radical unschoolers on as well as some more traditional homeschoolers, and of course some teachers, public school officials, etc. We stopped to watch it, thinking it was going to be viewed objectively and with equal consideration for all sides. WOW. I was actually surprised at how ill-informed he seemed to be. Still, it didn't really upset me, because it was pretty much a "common" view. But Jeff -- I didn't know how passionately he felt about homeschooling until then! Anyhoo, my point is that it was very biased and unbalanced. For example, he had a woman who had been homeschooled and felt socially-inept come on and essentially beg others to not homeschool their kids, but did not have someone who either had been public-schooled come on and say the same about that, or someone who had been homeschooled and loved it come on. That would have felt more balanced IMO. The highlight was when this woman stated that she was scared for the kids of the radical homeschoolers and for herself, in case those kids in the future had her health in their hands ... I guess I found it funny, because her concern is that they wouldn't be "book-learned", even though she's neglected the fact that in order to BE in charge of her health, one would have to get into and complete college, and post-graduate work, probably Med school! Just seemed farcical to me. I used to like Dr. Phil, and it isn't just this episode that has started changing my mind. I liked him much more when he was once a week, at the behest of Oprah. Labels: homeschooling, Jeff, parenting ------------------------------------------------
Parker Health Update Parker has been sick off and on for 3 weeks, with periods of complete wellness. This time, he got sick the night before Thanksgiving, slept for a few hours on Thanksgiving (VERY unlike him), had a temperature, and that resolved after another day, and now is STILL stuck with a cough. We are going to give it until Wednesday, provided it is just a cough, and then take him in. He has no other symptoms, just a bad cough. ------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, November 21, 2006 We Were Robbed Where we live, no one locks their car doors. Well, at least before last night, that is. On the way in to work this morning, Jeff noticed that his backpack, which he'd left in the car, was completely unzipped and splayed open in the back seat. He called me and asked me if I had gone in the car last night looking for something. I hadn't, obviously. I asked him if there was anything else awry, and he said the CDs were still there, but he wasn't sure if the money that had been in the console was missing. He went and checked, and there was one penny left. We don't know how much was in there, but it wasn't much. Now, our van, they also apparently got in to, and there is where they "got us". We had brought in the portable DVD player that is normally always out there, but the extra screen we had purchased for Kira, and all the wires for it, were gone. I don't know if that was all that they took (I guess the fact that it is all that we noticed as missing is a good thing). I'm a bit more paranoid, though, because I haven't seen my wallet in weeks (Jeff and I suspect that it was accidentally thrown away ... loooong story!), so I've been checking for any activity on the one card that was in there. But us being robbed isn't the worst of it. Not by a longshot. We called the police, and they came here AMAZINGLY fast .... probably because they were still in the neighborhood! 20 houses in our immediate neighborhood were hit. Some of the things that were stolen include collector's knives and TWO firearms. Yep, there are now thieves out there with more guns. And, to be fair, I am not anti-gun as much as I am anti-bullet. Still, I'd bet dollars to donuts that those guns were loaded... Jeff said it is a good thing we didn't notice anyone out there last night! ------------------------------------------------
Friday, November 17, 2006 Inspirational Kid's Site I LOVE this site for inspiration: http://kiddley.com/ (I plan to do the wax-resist painting soon! AND I think the mantel-scape could be a good group project, though it would require a little prep from you) Labels: homeschooling ------------------------------------------------
Thursday/Friday Questions Where will you be celebrating Thanksgiving, if you observe it? We will be celebrating Thanksgiving here, at home, with just our immediate family, and friends who are in town. Pecan or pumpkin pie? I adore Pecan (pronounced p'cahn) pie, but sometimes I just crave pumpkin. Favorite actor? Today, I'll say Paul Newman -- LOVE his organic company that is totally non-profit!  Actress? Normally, I say Gwyneth Paltrow. When you were a child, which was your favourite book? I can't recall! I have a horrible ability to remember my childhood. I DO remember my mom reading Rootabaga Stories a chapter a night to us. We loved it. Favo children's book, as an adult? What's your biggest regret? Going to grad school for neuroscience -- doing animal research. Show me the latest digital picture, of you. Since I hate pictures of me, I normally avoid them. You can kinda see me in this one Last song you heard? Can't recall. Last person you got mad at? Kira  Woke up and screamed for 30 minutes YET AGAIN. Very frustrating.What are you wearning? Pajamas. Need to get dressed and go to my homeschoolers gathering. Labels: Kristin ------------------------------------------------
Monday, November 13, 2006 Smushed Finger At playgroup today, Parker got his finger slammed in the door frame. This is the second time he's been injured at a playgroup, both at my house!! He is fine now, but we were concerned it might have been broken for a short while. It is going to be pretty bruised, but he'll be okay. Right after it happened, he was sooo inconsolable, and everyone was freaking out. But, no blood this time so, life is good. ------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, November 07, 2006 Local Education In Newberry proper, there is 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high school.
Alachua County has 24 Elementary, 7 Middle, and 7 High public schools. Not sure about private. So, if the elementary to middle to high schools go from A to B to C, it seems the foundation needed to continue improving isn't even there (if you believe these measures are fair and valid). Labels: community, homeschooling ------------------------------------------------
Monday, November 06, 2006 Our Take on the Flu Shot No, none of us plan to get it this year. Our pediatrician didn't even offer, because he knew we were unlikely to get it and he didn't feel Parker needed it. I just don't see the point in adding yet another shot for something that may or may not be needed, when I'm at the same time injecting something into my children's bodies that may or may not cause harm. The efficacy and dangers are both not guaranteed. I've heard recently that flu shots use thimerosal as a preservative, even though there is a controversy over it. Labels: health, vaccinations ------------------------------------------------
Decision Made We will be officially homeschooling next year. I am actually much more excited about it now, because I've found a whole group of moms and we're starting to do it now together. Labels: community, homeschooling, Parker ------------------------------------------------
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