Snow days are great days even if Nikki thinks this one has been wasted by occurring during a vacation. We lost power for about 3 hours last night just long enough to reminisce about the old days, play guitar and sing songs by candlelight, and cook up some popcorn.
Naturally in this modern era, all cellphones had been carefully charged. That combined with fully charged hand held video games meant there was not a dark place in the house.
Jamie was at work having his own adventure. With only generators for power the grocery store is an eerie place. A Plympton fireman left his grocery cart in a hurry when a call came while he was shopping. A Carver cop too paid a visit as he brought his wife in to pick up a few things. The manager treated the kids to pizza and tonic and they all goofed around at time and a half.
The power returned just as I had banished them all to bed. They were annoyed that I made them each take a flashlight and banished candle lite while I slept. They think of course that I am too bossy and that I worry too much. What could possibly happen if the candles stayed lit in the bathroom all night? Why can't they jump around the living room and bang into the live Christmas tree? What is the big deal if it falls down near lit candles?
It occurs to none of them that if I had not had the foresight to have a prepared emergency kit full of candles, oil, and matches, they would sit in the dark. That since I can never remember if our heat works in an outage (it does not) I had the heat cranked up all day so it never got too cold. They were aggravated when I had them seek out their flashlights and keep their phones and toys charged. They never noticed that I had a car scraper count and shovels by the door, oh yes and bread and milk, plus junk food to munch on. The big ordeal is to get them to gather empty milk jugs, and fill them with water for the animals and most importantly for the toilet that will not replenish itself when the electric pump is not working. They complain and gang up on me that I worry too much and grumble that I will not let them out to play as the wind whips branches from the trees at the ehight of the blizzard
But today as we dig out of the snow and be lazy in between bouts of shoveling you would think it might occur to even one of them to say, "Gee thanks mom." but it has not happened yet!
Monday, December 27, 2010
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Christmas etc
I had better write down some Christmas memories before they are all simply distant memories. Perhaps the most memorable thing about 2010 and this Christmas season will be the fact that we even had a Christmas morning, what with the Republicans and Democrats posturing and pontificating in Washington up until the last possible moment before helping the unfortunately unemployed. Big shout out to the governor's office who was the only one even remotely responsive.
On to more cheerful things. Well perhaps the vision of the tree slowly 'tiimbeeerrring' down on top of a giggling Nikki and an unexpected Joe will long linger in our memory. Or maybe the lovely spread that my darling daughter had in her new home. The 11 of us and the 5 Sironi/Edwards all fit in their upstairs quite comfortably if a little loudly!
The food was bountiful and delicious and of course there was enough gift wrap flying to please the most greedy of children. It might have been the year of the pet. Mary and I both posted more pictures of ours dogs celebrating the holidays than any photos of peace on earth, or of friends and family. Their dog Luke an 11 year old golden retriever rescued after his family lost their home, is totally acclimated to his new home. He cheerfully played with his present toys and chased his favorite flashlight beam with great drooly excitement.
Luke even suffered the indignity of having to wear a 'bah humbug' hat for a photo shoot. Meanwhile our little Cookie goodnaturedly put up with wearing a little doggy sweater. Bam bam became so jealous he too wanted one! I am not kidding. He is wearing it today and gloating about it to Cookie.
Joe's cats meanwhile are sleeping in an ugly little pirate ship contraption that he bought because the dogs should not have all the fun.
Lily the Beardie meanwhile looks older every day. She is interested in neither doggie fashion nor kitty nap spots. Her new resting spot at the top of the stairs is proving a hazard to all of us but none of us have the heart to make her move. Between her fading eyesight and increasing deafness it is clear she may not have another Christmas in her. None of us say it of course. But even the big kids pause to pat her or speak kindly to her.
We sent Corey back to college earlier today to avoid his being stranded on a train. But everyone else is home. Don will drive Jamie back and forth to work. (Jamie slid in the last snow storm, leaving work, breaking some million dollar part underneath that is now fixed but...)
The rest of us are in storm prep mode. Water bottles filled, animals battened down, flashlights and candles at the ready. Its a peaceful day, the day after Christmas, as everyone snuggles in warm new cloths or blankets and plays with new toys or reads a much anticipated book.
We have big people who love to shovel the snow and little peoaple who love to play in it. But thankfully I no longer have to dress and undress cold little hands and feet or even worry who has what wet or dried.
Later tonight I will bundle up to check on the chickens and bunnies. I may or may not do a little shoveling, and the snow shoes hold a certain appeal. But for now I have a good book and my room smells wonderful with the little gingerbrerad candle my Jamie got for me this Christmas.
Hope you and yours are safe and warm and enjoying these holidays.
On to more cheerful things. Well perhaps the vision of the tree slowly 'tiimbeeerrring' down on top of a giggling Nikki and an unexpected Joe will long linger in our memory. Or maybe the lovely spread that my darling daughter had in her new home. The 11 of us and the 5 Sironi/Edwards all fit in their upstairs quite comfortably if a little loudly!
The food was bountiful and delicious and of course there was enough gift wrap flying to please the most greedy of children. It might have been the year of the pet. Mary and I both posted more pictures of ours dogs celebrating the holidays than any photos of peace on earth, or of friends and family. Their dog Luke an 11 year old golden retriever rescued after his family lost their home, is totally acclimated to his new home. He cheerfully played with his present toys and chased his favorite flashlight beam with great drooly excitement.
Luke even suffered the indignity of having to wear a 'bah humbug' hat for a photo shoot. Meanwhile our little Cookie goodnaturedly put up with wearing a little doggy sweater. Bam bam became so jealous he too wanted one! I am not kidding. He is wearing it today and gloating about it to Cookie.
Joe's cats meanwhile are sleeping in an ugly little pirate ship contraption that he bought because the dogs should not have all the fun.
Lily the Beardie meanwhile looks older every day. She is interested in neither doggie fashion nor kitty nap spots. Her new resting spot at the top of the stairs is proving a hazard to all of us but none of us have the heart to make her move. Between her fading eyesight and increasing deafness it is clear she may not have another Christmas in her. None of us say it of course. But even the big kids pause to pat her or speak kindly to her.
We sent Corey back to college earlier today to avoid his being stranded on a train. But everyone else is home. Don will drive Jamie back and forth to work. (Jamie slid in the last snow storm, leaving work, breaking some million dollar part underneath that is now fixed but...)
The rest of us are in storm prep mode. Water bottles filled, animals battened down, flashlights and candles at the ready. Its a peaceful day, the day after Christmas, as everyone snuggles in warm new cloths or blankets and plays with new toys or reads a much anticipated book.
We have big people who love to shovel the snow and little peoaple who love to play in it. But thankfully I no longer have to dress and undress cold little hands and feet or even worry who has what wet or dried.
Later tonight I will bundle up to check on the chickens and bunnies. I may or may not do a little shoveling, and the snow shoes hold a certain appeal. But for now I have a good book and my room smells wonderful with the little gingerbrerad candle my Jamie got for me this Christmas.
Hope you and yours are safe and warm and enjoying these holidays.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Swan Song
Today as I was driving back from weight watchers to home, to get ready for work, my mind was skipping to a hundred different places. I am always in a rush when I leave weight watchers because of course I am starving (no one eats before weigh in. Hey I would step on the scale in the nude if it would not cause a stampede to the exit!) I was also hustling because I only have about 30 minutes or just less to eat and change for work. (I wear the lightest possible outfit for weigh in, the same each week so the scale is a true measure. You should see me trying to decide which underwear is the lightest!)
Needless to say I do not have time for dawdlers on the road. So I was mildly aggravated when a small car stopped up ahead of me on a street that was perfectly clear of snow. Wondering if they were lost as they seemed to inch forward then a little to the left then stop again, I was debating whether or not to just swing out and around them when I realised that they had a very visible reason for stopping.
There in front of the car was the largest swan I had ever seen. The magnificent bird was walking slowly almost mid road staring at a small embankment of snow. With great caution the car in front of me edged around the swan and continued on its way. I slowed to a stop as it looked for a moment as if the great bird was going to cross in front of me.
Instead it lowered its graceful head to the side and took a few steps towards whatever was covered with snow at the road's edge. Then it bobbed its head for a moment and then almost tucked its face against its own breast as it stared at the snow pile.
Clearly its mate lay beneath the snow cover, apparently hit during last night's white out. I drove quietly on, no longer rushing, trying to see through teary eyes.
I thought about how swans mate for life. People use to as well although that is becoming more an more uncommon. 2 of my dearest and oldest friends are in the midst of divorces now. Both couples assumed they too were mating for life. Like the desolate swan however both women were blind sided by unexpected tragedy that is ending their marriages.
Foolishly I reached for my phone to tell my mom about the swan. As I started to dial her number, something I have not done in years, I remembered that of course she too is gone. Her birthday just passed, we just put up all her favorite Christmas decorations that she made. But like the swan at the side of the road, she was devastated by my dad's death and died of a broken heart, not strong enough to go on without him.
That poor bird's pain was too real because we know the loss it is going through. That animal of course cannot understand what or why it happened. But then neither my girlfriends nor my mom could really comprehend what happened to them and their mates either. We think we are so in control of everything but of course we are not.
Tonight I raced to the gym after work, trying to fit in exercise before tonight's winter band concert. I could only squeeze it in of course because my mate agreed to stay home and cook dinner for all of us. I did sneak out to grab a Christmas present for him which he did not ask for but I know he will like. In the van, next to my membership card and water bottle he snuck 2 pieces of Christmas candy to sweeten my workout.
We are nothing like graceful swans of course, more like 2 old birds. But we are together and that is reason enough to celebrate this holiday season.
Needless to say I do not have time for dawdlers on the road. So I was mildly aggravated when a small car stopped up ahead of me on a street that was perfectly clear of snow. Wondering if they were lost as they seemed to inch forward then a little to the left then stop again, I was debating whether or not to just swing out and around them when I realised that they had a very visible reason for stopping.
There in front of the car was the largest swan I had ever seen. The magnificent bird was walking slowly almost mid road staring at a small embankment of snow. With great caution the car in front of me edged around the swan and continued on its way. I slowed to a stop as it looked for a moment as if the great bird was going to cross in front of me.
Instead it lowered its graceful head to the side and took a few steps towards whatever was covered with snow at the road's edge. Then it bobbed its head for a moment and then almost tucked its face against its own breast as it stared at the snow pile.
Clearly its mate lay beneath the snow cover, apparently hit during last night's white out. I drove quietly on, no longer rushing, trying to see through teary eyes.
I thought about how swans mate for life. People use to as well although that is becoming more an more uncommon. 2 of my dearest and oldest friends are in the midst of divorces now. Both couples assumed they too were mating for life. Like the desolate swan however both women were blind sided by unexpected tragedy that is ending their marriages.
Foolishly I reached for my phone to tell my mom about the swan. As I started to dial her number, something I have not done in years, I remembered that of course she too is gone. Her birthday just passed, we just put up all her favorite Christmas decorations that she made. But like the swan at the side of the road, she was devastated by my dad's death and died of a broken heart, not strong enough to go on without him.
That poor bird's pain was too real because we know the loss it is going through. That animal of course cannot understand what or why it happened. But then neither my girlfriends nor my mom could really comprehend what happened to them and their mates either. We think we are so in control of everything but of course we are not.
Tonight I raced to the gym after work, trying to fit in exercise before tonight's winter band concert. I could only squeeze it in of course because my mate agreed to stay home and cook dinner for all of us. I did sneak out to grab a Christmas present for him which he did not ask for but I know he will like. In the van, next to my membership card and water bottle he snuck 2 pieces of Christmas candy to sweeten my workout.
We are nothing like graceful swans of course, more like 2 old birds. But we are together and that is reason enough to celebrate this holiday season.
Monday, December 20, 2010
5 Days left
In kindergarten 5 days to Christmas is an amazing coincidence. It is something that has never happened before and 18 different kids said to me today "It is 5 days until Christmas, and guess what? I am 5." After each child revealed to me this startling phenomena I exclaimed with amazement. 18 expressions of awe and delight....
It got me thinking about the classroom teacher who has taught for 33 years. 33 years of preChristmas antsy-ness. 33 years of finding stray mittens and and matching hats and stuffing children into snow suits for 2 recesses and for the walk to the big building for specials, 5 days a week.
Somehow between zipping and mittening and rezippering and remittening, lessons are learned and teaching occurs. But I gotta tell you, feigning delight by the 12 time or so gets challenging.
Today I went outside with the properly dressed children while their teacher stayed indoors with those kids who forgot boots. We had a ball although one of us ended up with a bloody nose. I quickly used my left glove to cover the sight of blood although this little girl was very brave. Last Friday my right glove was used in the same way for one of more mischievous boys and he screamed and hollered at the first hint of red!
The school nurse goodnaturedly scolded me for not carrying tissue. But after pouring 24 children into winter clothes it is hard to remember anything!
One little guy insisted on wearing a think sweatshirt over his tshirt and long sleeve shirt. But then he could not get into his full length ski coat. I admit here in the privacy of my blog that I was dreading trying to pry him both in and out of that thing. But his teacher just gave him a patient smile and with a bit of elbow grease managed to get him in and out of it, while I zippered a dozen other kids. She is a saint!
Still their excitement as they practise Christmas songs, make holiday cards and decorations, count Menorah candles and reindeer....and cut out carefully traced hands in green to make a HUGE Christmas tree....well it is hard not to get caught up in all the joy.
Each day I have showed up in some sort of Christmas thing, one day a Victoria's secret pink Santa hat, the other day elf slippers. Today my red Santa hat had white Santa hair poking out the back. I make my entrance at the start of math, we share a big laugh and then get back to work.
On Wednesday I will wear my whole elf outfit just for them because of course they deserve a good laugh. They work so hard when they are 5. We had no time for rest-time today because there is so much important work to do before Christmas break. By days end they were exhausted and there were a few tears when 2 of the buses were late (It is still snowing like crazy here in Carver!)
Their teacher patiently reassured them that of course there was plenty of time and of course she would sit right with them and then walk them out when their bus came. That calm reassurance, so hard to squeeze in this time of year, is critical for them.
I think Santa will have to spend a long time in Carver this year. I know 24 5-6 years old who are tops on the Nice List this year. Merry Christmas everyone.
It got me thinking about the classroom teacher who has taught for 33 years. 33 years of preChristmas antsy-ness. 33 years of finding stray mittens and and matching hats and stuffing children into snow suits for 2 recesses and for the walk to the big building for specials, 5 days a week.
Somehow between zipping and mittening and rezippering and remittening, lessons are learned and teaching occurs. But I gotta tell you, feigning delight by the 12 time or so gets challenging.
Today I went outside with the properly dressed children while their teacher stayed indoors with those kids who forgot boots. We had a ball although one of us ended up with a bloody nose. I quickly used my left glove to cover the sight of blood although this little girl was very brave. Last Friday my right glove was used in the same way for one of more mischievous boys and he screamed and hollered at the first hint of red!
The school nurse goodnaturedly scolded me for not carrying tissue. But after pouring 24 children into winter clothes it is hard to remember anything!
One little guy insisted on wearing a think sweatshirt over his tshirt and long sleeve shirt. But then he could not get into his full length ski coat. I admit here in the privacy of my blog that I was dreading trying to pry him both in and out of that thing. But his teacher just gave him a patient smile and with a bit of elbow grease managed to get him in and out of it, while I zippered a dozen other kids. She is a saint!
Still their excitement as they practise Christmas songs, make holiday cards and decorations, count Menorah candles and reindeer....and cut out carefully traced hands in green to make a HUGE Christmas tree....well it is hard not to get caught up in all the joy.
Each day I have showed up in some sort of Christmas thing, one day a Victoria's secret pink Santa hat, the other day elf slippers. Today my red Santa hat had white Santa hair poking out the back. I make my entrance at the start of math, we share a big laugh and then get back to work.
On Wednesday I will wear my whole elf outfit just for them because of course they deserve a good laugh. They work so hard when they are 5. We had no time for rest-time today because there is so much important work to do before Christmas break. By days end they were exhausted and there were a few tears when 2 of the buses were late (It is still snowing like crazy here in Carver!)
Their teacher patiently reassured them that of course there was plenty of time and of course she would sit right with them and then walk them out when their bus came. That calm reassurance, so hard to squeeze in this time of year, is critical for them.
I think Santa will have to spend a long time in Carver this year. I know 24 5-6 years old who are tops on the Nice List this year. Merry Christmas everyone.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Kindness of strangers.
Sometimes people are so kind it takes your breath away. My favorite person today is the bus driver who drives the little kids on bus 16. It all started 2 days ago when my little buddy B had a loose tooth in school. Do you remember what being 5 and 6 is like? All those gap tooth grins have to come from somewhere!
Just after lunch our buddy B had a tooth so tantalisingly close to being out that his little tongue could not resist tugging it and pushing it about as it dangled precariously. Finally as we were in the front building working with our 5th grade buddies, the tooth popped free.
"Mrs Blauss Mrs Blauss," he cried out excitedly, reaching his cupped hand towards me. Distracted I stuck my hand out palm up, only to receive the saliva coated treasure. " I need you to hold this for me."
With great amusement Mrs Kent, the fifth grade teacher fashioned a little pouch out of paper and I tucked the baby tooth into it. (Then applied a liberal coating of disinfectant to my hands. Body fluid is a by product of primary school!)
I carefully watched over the makeshift tooth carrier until dismissal when we securely tucked the tooth in his backpack. All was right with the world and the tooth fairy rewarded our little blond hero that very night.
Flush with the discovery of monetary gain and notoriety that a visit from the tooth fairy inevitably brings, B spent all of yesterday trying to pry out any tooth that was remotely wriggly.
Sure enough as we sat watching Reading Rainbow in the library B managed to dislodge another tooth. He joyfully approached me with an outstretched hand and having not learned my lesson from the day before I stuck out my own. He deposited a tooth that clearly was not quite as ready to come out. It was covered in drippy blood and as he smiled his gape tooth grin at me he looked rather Twilightish, blood slipping down his chin.
I sent him to the nurse for a rinse and spit and I went next door to our class to wash the tooth (and me!) and tuck into a plastic baggy which I then left on the teacher's desk and promptly forgot all about it in the excitement over Reading Rainbow.
Snack and a math game followed Library time and in the excitement over dismissal the tooth just never entered my mind. We had some confusion as we readied 24 squirmy children for the buses. 5 as you may recall is not the age for complete independence in dressing. I zippered a dozen coats, and tried to squeeze little paws into gloves. Meanwhile one of our sometime parent dismissals was certain she was not suppose to take the bus. Another of our little Special friends had to go the bathroom just as buses were called and then amidst great giggling refused to get off the throne.
The teacher and I juggled getting children out to their bus with trying to come up with a cheerful way to get our little student out of the bathroom and onto her bus. I finally told her to come out and look at the puppy and she in great interest emerged from her hideaway. I then showed her a picture of a dog (ok I may rot in hell for tricking a special needs child to get out of the bathroom on her own, but an entire BUSLOAD of kids was waiting for her, the darling!) She then obligingly donned on her backpack and we somehow managed to get her little gloves on and made a mad dash out to the bus vowing to make sure bathroom visits were a planned part of her schedule from now on and BEFORE end of the day dismissal.
The principal saw our dash out to the buses and in great amusement offered to see my charge safely aboard if I could please go back and find Bs tooth. when I stared at her blankly she said, "He said you would know where it is. His bus driver is turning around to get it!"
Turns out just as the buses were pulling out of the parking lot B remembered his tooth and tearfully told the bus driver. Now in this day of everyone having to be scheduled to death and all the stresses we have paced on us in the workforce, this harried driver would totally have been within her rights to say "sorry kid, get it in the morning."
Instead she came to the rescue, called over the radio about the tooth mission and the transmission went from bus to outside walkey talky to office to a phone call to the classroom where our teacher was just getting the second round of bus kids ready.
It was like a parody of some movie scene where everyone gets involved to get the hero passed off from point A to point B where the heroine awaits!
I dashed back to the classroom, swimming upstream in a sea of children trying to leave the building. The teacher hung just outside the classroom, laughing, clutching the plastic baggy with tooth. I grabbed it, then made the return dash back out to the buses where I handed off the tooth to a third teacher who made certain it got to bus 16 and our toothless smiling kindergartner.
How sweet was that driver for taking the time to listen to a child and turning back to help him!
Just after lunch our buddy B had a tooth so tantalisingly close to being out that his little tongue could not resist tugging it and pushing it about as it dangled precariously. Finally as we were in the front building working with our 5th grade buddies, the tooth popped free.
"Mrs Blauss Mrs Blauss," he cried out excitedly, reaching his cupped hand towards me. Distracted I stuck my hand out palm up, only to receive the saliva coated treasure. " I need you to hold this for me."
With great amusement Mrs Kent, the fifth grade teacher fashioned a little pouch out of paper and I tucked the baby tooth into it. (Then applied a liberal coating of disinfectant to my hands. Body fluid is a by product of primary school!)
I carefully watched over the makeshift tooth carrier until dismissal when we securely tucked the tooth in his backpack. All was right with the world and the tooth fairy rewarded our little blond hero that very night.
Flush with the discovery of monetary gain and notoriety that a visit from the tooth fairy inevitably brings, B spent all of yesterday trying to pry out any tooth that was remotely wriggly.
Sure enough as we sat watching Reading Rainbow in the library B managed to dislodge another tooth. He joyfully approached me with an outstretched hand and having not learned my lesson from the day before I stuck out my own. He deposited a tooth that clearly was not quite as ready to come out. It was covered in drippy blood and as he smiled his gape tooth grin at me he looked rather Twilightish, blood slipping down his chin.
I sent him to the nurse for a rinse and spit and I went next door to our class to wash the tooth (and me!) and tuck into a plastic baggy which I then left on the teacher's desk and promptly forgot all about it in the excitement over Reading Rainbow.
Snack and a math game followed Library time and in the excitement over dismissal the tooth just never entered my mind. We had some confusion as we readied 24 squirmy children for the buses. 5 as you may recall is not the age for complete independence in dressing. I zippered a dozen coats, and tried to squeeze little paws into gloves. Meanwhile one of our sometime parent dismissals was certain she was not suppose to take the bus. Another of our little Special friends had to go the bathroom just as buses were called and then amidst great giggling refused to get off the throne.
The teacher and I juggled getting children out to their bus with trying to come up with a cheerful way to get our little student out of the bathroom and onto her bus. I finally told her to come out and look at the puppy and she in great interest emerged from her hideaway. I then showed her a picture of a dog (ok I may rot in hell for tricking a special needs child to get out of the bathroom on her own, but an entire BUSLOAD of kids was waiting for her, the darling!) She then obligingly donned on her backpack and we somehow managed to get her little gloves on and made a mad dash out to the bus vowing to make sure bathroom visits were a planned part of her schedule from now on and BEFORE end of the day dismissal.
The principal saw our dash out to the buses and in great amusement offered to see my charge safely aboard if I could please go back and find Bs tooth. when I stared at her blankly she said, "He said you would know where it is. His bus driver is turning around to get it!"
Turns out just as the buses were pulling out of the parking lot B remembered his tooth and tearfully told the bus driver. Now in this day of everyone having to be scheduled to death and all the stresses we have paced on us in the workforce, this harried driver would totally have been within her rights to say "sorry kid, get it in the morning."
Instead she came to the rescue, called over the radio about the tooth mission and the transmission went from bus to outside walkey talky to office to a phone call to the classroom where our teacher was just getting the second round of bus kids ready.
It was like a parody of some movie scene where everyone gets involved to get the hero passed off from point A to point B where the heroine awaits!
I dashed back to the classroom, swimming upstream in a sea of children trying to leave the building. The teacher hung just outside the classroom, laughing, clutching the plastic baggy with tooth. I grabbed it, then made the return dash back out to the buses where I handed off the tooth to a third teacher who made certain it got to bus 16 and our toothless smiling kindergartner.
How sweet was that driver for taking the time to listen to a child and turning back to help him!
Monday, December 06, 2010
Trouble in Paradise
I have only had my free Kindle app with all its free book possiblities for less than a day and I have already discovered a problem.
Last night as I climbed into bed I was giddy. I thought I had the perfect solution to my needing to read before sleep and Don needing to sleep before me. Now in the past Donnie has insisted that the little light on above our bed does not bother him and sure enough he dozes right out. But I have to be honest and admit that his sleep seems quite restless while the light is on.
I have also tried a variety of flashlights including both one you attach to the book itself and one of those miner's lights that strap to your head. Anyone who has ever tried to read by flashlight with 40 something year old tired eyes, can attest, this is not a workable solution.
But my Kindle ah my Kindle. This little booklike device with its own internal light. Well what could possibly go wrong? The thing is the screen while large for a phone is still only less than 3 inches by less than 6 inches.
But I was quite happy to discover that I can increase the type size with just a flick of the finger. So we settled into bed, Don killed the light and I cheerfully turned on the kindle app, adjusted the type size, and started to read the greatest English novel ever written, Pride and Prejudice.
Each screen of course could only hold about a paragraph of words but with the quick swipe of your finger the 'page' turns and you are on to the next paragraph. I joyfully began to read and was cheerfully moving through the novel when Donnie finally muttered and complained.
It seems that the flicker of a finger movement is actually more of a wrist flick with slight arm involevement. What could be wrong with that. Well I am a cursed fast reader. I mean really fast. Not only that but I have a bit of a photographic memory when it comes to reading material (in high school I could read the history assignment twice and then answer any question about it because if I did not know the answer off the top of my head I could envision the book and where the answer was on the page!!!)
The fast reading plus the photographicness of my reading memory blends with another of my freakish abilities, I can read comprehend respond multitask. So I have photogrpahed the first paragraph and while I am reacting to that I am reading the next and so on......
This is not bragging in anyway since my freakish skills I cannot take credit for and they have never made me a dime. They have however made my ability to enjoy reading the same beloved stories over and over.
But flash flicking a Kindle while a true pleasure for the reader, it is not the same experience for the bed partner. Apaprently for Donnie it was like sleeping next to a champion ping pong player reliving the big game.
Evidently my kindle reading will have to remain a solo activity....and not at bedtime:>)
Last night as I climbed into bed I was giddy. I thought I had the perfect solution to my needing to read before sleep and Don needing to sleep before me. Now in the past Donnie has insisted that the little light on above our bed does not bother him and sure enough he dozes right out. But I have to be honest and admit that his sleep seems quite restless while the light is on.
I have also tried a variety of flashlights including both one you attach to the book itself and one of those miner's lights that strap to your head. Anyone who has ever tried to read by flashlight with 40 something year old tired eyes, can attest, this is not a workable solution.
But my Kindle ah my Kindle. This little booklike device with its own internal light. Well what could possibly go wrong? The thing is the screen while large for a phone is still only less than 3 inches by less than 6 inches.
But I was quite happy to discover that I can increase the type size with just a flick of the finger. So we settled into bed, Don killed the light and I cheerfully turned on the kindle app, adjusted the type size, and started to read the greatest English novel ever written, Pride and Prejudice.
Each screen of course could only hold about a paragraph of words but with the quick swipe of your finger the 'page' turns and you are on to the next paragraph. I joyfully began to read and was cheerfully moving through the novel when Donnie finally muttered and complained.
It seems that the flicker of a finger movement is actually more of a wrist flick with slight arm involevement. What could be wrong with that. Well I am a cursed fast reader. I mean really fast. Not only that but I have a bit of a photographic memory when it comes to reading material (in high school I could read the history assignment twice and then answer any question about it because if I did not know the answer off the top of my head I could envision the book and where the answer was on the page!!!)
The fast reading plus the photographicness of my reading memory blends with another of my freakish abilities, I can read comprehend respond multitask. So I have photogrpahed the first paragraph and while I am reacting to that I am reading the next and so on......
This is not bragging in anyway since my freakish skills I cannot take credit for and they have never made me a dime. They have however made my ability to enjoy reading the same beloved stories over and over.
But flash flicking a Kindle while a true pleasure for the reader, it is not the same experience for the bed partner. Apaprently for Donnie it was like sleeping next to a champion ping pong player reliving the big game.
Evidently my kindle reading will have to remain a solo activity....and not at bedtime:>)
Sunday, December 05, 2010
Old and New
I have just discovered and amazing thing. My new phone(Droid X) has a free Kindle app. As you may know a Kindle is an electronic device that can download books which then can be read anywhere. Kindles were originally selling for close to 400 although I have seen them advertised for around 150.
I could never imagine replacing the smell, feel, and weight of a beloved book with a sterile small computer screen. On the other hand I could see some uses for it. (Like at the airport or while on vacation.) So I was thrilled to discover that for no extra cost I could have a Kindle built right into my phone. I of course carry that everywhere (which is why I resisted a cellphone for as long as possible as I knew it would become indispensable!)
Donnie has been overpaying Verizon for a while now so that the cell, landline, Internet, and TV could continue without interruption during this significant downturn in our finances. Today was free upgrade day (although of course nothing is truly free!)and Corey and I have been hovering over phone information to get the best deals.
To find out I can get FREE books is almost as good as a puppy for Christmas! Now of course most of the 700,000 titles cost. But can you imagine Pride And Prejudice is free? Free!
You can get the bible free too! Old and New Testament. Oooh you can also get an explanation of the United States Constitution, AND free google maps so no need to pay for directions. Oh and I can get a free tuner so if I ever learn to play the guitar I can tune it! Up until now I have had to depend on Donnie for both directions AND guitar tuning and believe me HIS services do not come cheap!
I have lots to learn about my new phone of course. In addition I started a laundry project that is only half way complete (you can read that to mean I have piles of clothes everywhere). But now that I know I have a new Pride and Prejudice I must stop everything to read one of my most favorite stories ever.
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of good fortune must be in want of a wife."
I could never imagine replacing the smell, feel, and weight of a beloved book with a sterile small computer screen. On the other hand I could see some uses for it. (Like at the airport or while on vacation.) So I was thrilled to discover that for no extra cost I could have a Kindle built right into my phone. I of course carry that everywhere (which is why I resisted a cellphone for as long as possible as I knew it would become indispensable!)
Donnie has been overpaying Verizon for a while now so that the cell, landline, Internet, and TV could continue without interruption during this significant downturn in our finances. Today was free upgrade day (although of course nothing is truly free!)and Corey and I have been hovering over phone information to get the best deals.
To find out I can get FREE books is almost as good as a puppy for Christmas! Now of course most of the 700,000 titles cost. But can you imagine Pride And Prejudice is free? Free!
You can get the bible free too! Old and New Testament. Oooh you can also get an explanation of the United States Constitution, AND free google maps so no need to pay for directions. Oh and I can get a free tuner so if I ever learn to play the guitar I can tune it! Up until now I have had to depend on Donnie for both directions AND guitar tuning and believe me HIS services do not come cheap!
I have lots to learn about my new phone of course. In addition I started a laundry project that is only half way complete (you can read that to mean I have piles of clothes everywhere). But now that I know I have a new Pride and Prejudice I must stop everything to read one of my most favorite stories ever.
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of good fortune must be in want of a wife."
Thursday, December 02, 2010
Changes
I have blogged a variety of topics in my head this week, just have not gotten around to putting them to keyboard.
One fun topic has been the new Weight Watchers program. First time in over a decade that they have really shaken things up. Its good for members because the all new materials to read through and the new way of looking at things helps with the motivation factor. At least it does for me. What baffles me are people who fret and worry about the change ahead of time, convinced that they won't lose the weight doing it the new way.
A few people have said that under the new way they are expected to eat way too much food for instance and they never be able to eat it all! I wonder if they were ever really fat. I have never ever had a problem not being able to finish all the food. That is part of what got me overweight to begin with:>)
Under my way I gained a hundred pounds. Under the old weight watchers way I lost and kept off over 40 of those 100. Under the new way at weight watchers I plan on losing the remaining 60.
The 'points plus plan' no longer only takes fiber, calories per serving, and fat into account. It now considers protein, carbohydrates, fiber, and fat. Makes sense to me from scientific point of view. However it does mean some recalculating of some of my key go to foods including Fiber One bars, peanut butter, and milk.
I also like that it stresses exercise even more so than previously.... Boy in the end the simple reality of eat less, eat healthier, and move more should be an easy reality. But it sure aint!!!
I have been lifting weights again although the extreme caution I have to constantly take with my recovering neck makes for some slow and methodical movements. I did learn an interesting tidbit. I assumed that my neck was injured and the nerves. But I never gave much thought to the weakening muscles. I mean I guess I just assumed the weakness was the kind you get when you do not use the muscles. But really the way to look at it was that the muscles were being damaged just like the neck and nerves. They were not getting weaker through disuse they were getting injured because they could not get the proper stimulation, nutrients, etc.
I have gained a lot of knowledge during my physical therapy sessions and much of the strength and range of motion has improved. Next week I will begin going ever other week however as I lose my health insurance..... don't get me started on those in government who are about to take a nice long paid Christmas break while the unemployed are no longer covered.....sigh, that is for another blog while I focus today on good health issues.
The muscles around my neck remain very tight and turning to the right still has some limits. But I am in high motivation mode right now to exercise and eat healthy so that makes things go a bit smoother. Too bad you cannot bottle motivation, or turn it into al ittle pill. Of course the key to long term success is doing the movement and eating right with or without motivation! But it sure helps when the move it and lose it muse is buzzing aorund.
One fun topic has been the new Weight Watchers program. First time in over a decade that they have really shaken things up. Its good for members because the all new materials to read through and the new way of looking at things helps with the motivation factor. At least it does for me. What baffles me are people who fret and worry about the change ahead of time, convinced that they won't lose the weight doing it the new way.
A few people have said that under the new way they are expected to eat way too much food for instance and they never be able to eat it all! I wonder if they were ever really fat. I have never ever had a problem not being able to finish all the food. That is part of what got me overweight to begin with:>)
Under my way I gained a hundred pounds. Under the old weight watchers way I lost and kept off over 40 of those 100. Under the new way at weight watchers I plan on losing the remaining 60.
The 'points plus plan' no longer only takes fiber, calories per serving, and fat into account. It now considers protein, carbohydrates, fiber, and fat. Makes sense to me from scientific point of view. However it does mean some recalculating of some of my key go to foods including Fiber One bars, peanut butter, and milk.
I also like that it stresses exercise even more so than previously.... Boy in the end the simple reality of eat less, eat healthier, and move more should be an easy reality. But it sure aint!!!
I have been lifting weights again although the extreme caution I have to constantly take with my recovering neck makes for some slow and methodical movements. I did learn an interesting tidbit. I assumed that my neck was injured and the nerves. But I never gave much thought to the weakening muscles. I mean I guess I just assumed the weakness was the kind you get when you do not use the muscles. But really the way to look at it was that the muscles were being damaged just like the neck and nerves. They were not getting weaker through disuse they were getting injured because they could not get the proper stimulation, nutrients, etc.
I have gained a lot of knowledge during my physical therapy sessions and much of the strength and range of motion has improved. Next week I will begin going ever other week however as I lose my health insurance..... don't get me started on those in government who are about to take a nice long paid Christmas break while the unemployed are no longer covered.....sigh, that is for another blog while I focus today on good health issues.
The muscles around my neck remain very tight and turning to the right still has some limits. But I am in high motivation mode right now to exercise and eat healthy so that makes things go a bit smoother. Too bad you cannot bottle motivation, or turn it into al ittle pill. Of course the key to long term success is doing the movement and eating right with or without motivation! But it sure helps when the move it and lose it muse is buzzing aorund.
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