So even though the forecast is calling for "few showers" Sunday (even though just yesterday they were saying it would be sunny), I am still kicking ass and taking names.

The rest of the day was incredibly productive. Although sometimes the kids were not all with me, I felt that I had a direction, a goal, and a purpose, and I was gonna get there whether or not they got there with me, and for the most part, they came along. The computer process went much better the second time around, and even the 3rd time, although we had to scramble for a minute to find a place to take it, even though I had reserved the library. I got all my work graded and entered, although not until just now. I looked at the students scores, and I am hopeful for when I get them all through it. I think this is going to be a really excellent program to have.

On a sadder note, I visited a friend who is in hospice. It was good to see her, and I think she was glad to see us, and we had a nice chat for about an hour.

Afterwards, Kat and I went to an Indian restaurant which does a pretty good dinner for two, and also has a tendency to lavish desserts on us whenever we go there together.

I cleaned a little around the house, sweeping up and down, and taking out the trash and recycling for collection tomorrow. I have some laundry going, and will at least get it in the dryer before bed. I might even get it folded and put away (we shall see).

On a final note, I discovered last night that the filter had somehow fallen out of my CPAP machine. I was amazed at what a difference it makes, in terms of the air pressure and also not leaving my mouth feeling like the Gobi Desert when I wake up (parched and tasting slightly of unwashed horse).

Tomorrow is Friday, and as my old principal promised one of them every week. Its also payday, and I have big plans for the money, although they mostly involving paying various doctors' bills. The weekend is almost here, and its going to be great! _
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04:40:05 AM, Friday 3 February 2012

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Hmmm, it appears comments are not pinging BLT? Is it just mine, or all the blogmass? _
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04:43:22 PM, Thursday 2 February 2012

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Its really amazing how well today is going.

I woke up on time (more or less), was able to shower and get to work early enough to print off my notes. Unfortunately, as I was making transparencies, the copier decided to be a pig-dog, and so I was just finishing when the bell rang.

I had so much to do with my first class, that I'm worried I gave them a bit of the short shrift with the notes (I didn't get to do as many examples as I wanted, but when I realized we were pushing it for time, I did the first three problems out of their homework as examples, so they have less to do. At least I know where we can tighten up in later classes.

Had some snafus in the library with the online test, but with the help of the Instructional Coach, we were able to trouble shoot, and so for all the rest of my classes, I have a much better idea of what to do. With a plan for the online tests, the rest of today and tomorrow should be smooth sailing.

I was also able to get all the collected work from my first period graded and entered into the online gradebook.

I'm wearing an incredibly cute lavender tie with pink flowers on it, a lavender shirt and purple argyle socks. Plans for this weekend are coming together, tomorrow is payday, and I just feel awesome today! Hope your day and weekend are going as well, and you're feeling as fabulous as me. _
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04:38:38 PM, Thursday 2 February 2012

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Good lord, I am on fire today!

I got all my grading done and entered into the online gradebook. I organized my desk. When I got home, I made a key for the homework, created a short online quiz for my kids tomorrow, and created a powerpoint slide for notes for tomorrow, with vocabulary and everything (although it appears my printer is out of ink. Boo, hiss).

So not only am I being Super Teacher tonight, I also made arrangements to have a cookout at my sisters and have invited some of my friends and family over Sunday for an afternoon of hanging out in the beautiful February air (assuming there is beautiful February air (its been in the 50's and 60's almost all week.)

And its not even 10:30 (well, now it is, but only since I've been typing). Go team Neil!

_
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04:59:32 AM, Thursday 2 February 2012

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Siting on the back patio, drinking Trader Joe's instant iced chai, watching the dogs runaround and surfing the web on my phone. Its quite pleasant in the fading of the day, and although my left elbow is cold, I'm generally very comfortable and relaxed. A good way to unwind after a stressful day. _
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11:53:47 PM, Monday 30 January 2012

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Today was a day of great productivity, although not necessarily my highest priority items. Took the dogs to the park, did laundry (although have yet to fold laundry), did laundry again (kitchen towels, shower curtain, shower mat, and kitchen curtains) cleaned the shower, went to both Office Depot in search of wet erase markers and to Target in search of various (the 3rd trip to Target in a week - ouch) and finally went through some of the boxes in the basement. Tonight, I was mostly pulling out office/school supplies, but still, I now have two reams of paper, pencils, markers, highlighters and index card to take to school Monday.

I also went to the library and picked up David Burn's "Feeling Good," which has been recommended by a friend and no less than three therapists. Now, I am contemplating my second shower of the day and eating cheap pizza. Tomorrow, I clean off the dining room table, and then I grade papers until I collapse. Well, hopefully not that long, but still. _
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07:32:15 AM, Sunday 29 January 2012

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FDR's 53nd Birthday To-Ga! To-Ga! To-Ga! _
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04:10:40 PM, Thursday 26 January 2012

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I'm actually not worried about what came before the Horrendous Space Kablooie, so much as I can't quite grok how, assuming you had the means, travel 93 billion lights years in a straight line and end up back where you started. The idea that the universe is curved, fine. On earth, traveling 8,000 miles in a "straight" line gets you back to start is fine, but on earth you can't pass through the earth, while I can't quite see why you can't "pass through the universe," or how a 93 billion light year "straight line" in any direction always gets you back to where you started. THAT is what is breaking my brain right now. _
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06:38:36 PM, Sunday 22 January 2012

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Its no shark with a frikkin' laser, but it will do. _
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03:11:05 PM, Sunday 22 January 2012

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Was wondering the history of "gazette", and wondered idly if it meant "little gaze", thinking it might be linked to the same root as gazelle. Actually, its Venetian Italian for "little magpie coin" or, possibly, "little magpie chatterer."

Now I want to look up "gazelle". _
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01:02:16 AM, Sunday 22 January 2012

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V nz znq rabhtu gb fcvg evtug abj. N fghqrag jub unq snvyrq 1fg naq 2aq dhnegre nccrnyrq gb gur fghqrag yvnvfba gb or nyybjrq gb ergnxr gur 2aq dhnegre svany. Gur fghqrag yvnvfba fnvq ur pbhyq gnxr vg lrfgreqnl be gbqnl. Gur bayl ernfba gur fpubyne jnagrq gb vzcebir uvf tenqr jnf fb ur jbhyq unir fcbegf ryvtvovyvgl, ohg rira vs ur envfrq guvf bar frzrfgre gb n Q ur'q fgvyy abg or ryvtvoyr. Gur fghqrag unf bayl 5 perqvgf evtug abj nsgre 2.5 lrnef va uvtu fpubby. Gur yvxryvubbq bs uvf orvat noyr gb fpber 70% bs zber ba gur svany vf irel, irel erzbgr, juvpu vf gur oner zvavzhz sbe uvz gb cnff gur dhnegre. Gura, vg jbhyq unir gb or nirentrq jvgu 1fg dhnegre, juvpu zrnaf vs V qb vg ol gur obbxf, gurer vf ab jnl gur lbhat zna pna cnff svefg frzrfgre. Ubjrire, orpnhfr bs zl vyyarff, V jnf irel trarebhf. Vs n fghqrag cnffrq rira bar dhnegre, gurl tbg ng yrnfg n Q sbe gur frzrfgre, ertneqyrff bs gur nirentr.

Fb, guvf vf jung vf veevgngvat gb zr. Ubjrire, jung vf ernyyl sehfgengvat vf gung lrfgreqnl, jura ur jnf gbyq guvf, qvq ur pbzr gb zr nsgre fpubby? Qvq ur tb gb gur bgure grnpure gb gel gb ergnxr gung grfg? Ab, ur jrag onpx gb fcbegf cenpgvpr. Naq abj, ng gur 11gu ubhe naq 59gu zvahgr, ur fubjf hc. Nffhzvat ur svavfurf ba gvzr, naq V nz noyr gb tenqr vg, naq vgf rabhtu sbe uvz gb cnff gur dhnegre, vg jbhyq unir gb or qbar orsber gur cevapvcny yrnirf fb uvf tenqr pna or pbeerpgrq, naq V qba'g xabj ubj ybat ur fgnlf.

Gur obl unf snvyrq. Ur arrqf gb npprcg gung snvyher naq zbir ba. Gur snpg gung gur nqzvavfgengvba xrrcf tvivat uvz 132aq punaprf vf cebonoyl jul ur vf n guveq lrne serfuzna jvgu bayl 5 perqvgf.

...

Netyrql _
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09:22:10 PM, Thursday 19 January 2012

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Feeling stressed, broke, and sad today. For some reason, a payment to my doctor's office bounced, so they cancelled my appointment Friday. I get paid Friday, so maybe I can get the balanced paid that morning (although because I missed a payment, I have to pay the whole thing rather than regular payments) and get back on her schedule. So, stressful, especially considering that I really need to talk about my medications with her. Still, I have enough drugs to get me through a month or so. Anyway. Just feeling down today. More than anything, its the rollercoster that gets to me. Yesterday was fine, good even. Today, not so much. Le sigh. _
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10:21:48 PM, Wednesday 18 January 2012

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In a conversation with my sister about religious precepts*, specifically regarding Jehovah's Witnesses' beliefs in who gets to go to heaven, which lead to a brief discussion of Calvinism's doctrine of predestination, which led me to wonder where the modern Calvinists were hiding out, and wonder if "Calvary Baptists" were Calvinists. Turns out no, Calvary is an Anglecized version of the Latin "Calvariae Locus" from the Greek "Κρανίου Τόπος", or "Place of the Skull", or the hill of Golgatha. Fascinating!

Anyway, where are the Calvinists? Surely such an influential theologian as John Calvin has to have some adherents running around still. And he does! Turns out they're Presbyterians. Who knew? (Also, the Reformed Baptists, who come out of the Particular Baptist movement, which would have the best name ever, if not for existence of Hyper-Calvinism).

Anyway, this has been your lesson in comparative theology for today. Now that I'm being asked to perform the marriage ceremonies of close friends, I figure I should do a little research, just in case someone wants a Hyper-Calvinist service or something.

*Today's lesson is brought to you by the Artist Known as Prince's pelvic region. The conversation started because I read in an article that Prince required a hip replacement, but wouldn't get one because, as a Jehovah's Witness, he is against blood transfusions. _
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05:00:20 AM, Monday 16 January 2012

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"Mr. Emanuel openly said that he thought the health care overhaul had been a bad idea, and after accounts of his views began to surface in the news media in early 2010, he went into the Oval Office and offered his resignation to Mr. Obama, according to several colleagues.

The chief of staff “understood that the stories were an embarrassment and felt like he owed it to him to offer his resignation,” Mr. Axelrod said. The president declined to accept it, telling Mr. Emanuel that his punishment was to stay and push through the health care measure."

The New York Times

The article is chiefly about First Lady Michelle Obama, and its pretty interesting. The passage above, however, caused me to laugh out loud and clap my hands for President Obama. Its such a wonderful response to Emanuel's complaints. _
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08:21:57 PM, Saturday 7 January 2012

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I spilled root beer float on my keyboard last night. It seems to be working fine, although I lost half the float. : ( _
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01:07:36 AM, Saturday 7 January 2012

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In regard to this old thread from January 2011, I keep trying to post a reply, and for whatever reason, it keeps getting rejected. Its not even like I'm trying to use an URL or fancy punctuation or anything. =Sad Neil. Anyway, the comment, or the second or third iteration at least, is below.

[The Tempest] absolutely was [a fabulous movie]. I loved Helen Mirren as Prospera, and Ariel, and Caliban, and even Russel Brand was good.

I have in my head of piece of Trivia, which unfortunately, may be totally untrue, but for some reason I remember hearing that the gigantic staircase in the movie was from some theatrical production, possibly of 'The Tempest', or something similarly Shakespearian. My source now disavows all knowledge of this, so I can't remember why I think it, and I can't find any information (or even pictures) of the staircase on Google, so it is entirely possible my brain invented this out of whole cloth.

Anyway. It was a great movie. I think its out on DVD at last, so now I have to keep an eye out for it. _
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10:56:25 PM, Monday 2 January 2012

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It occurs to me on this, the first day of 2012, that I need new calendars. Although, if my blog is to be believed, I really don't. _
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04:08:18 AM, Monday 2 January 2012

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The large shelf would not fit in my parent's Kia, so this evening my brother is going to come down in his wife's SUV and help me move it over. Everything else, however, has been moved. I have showered, and now I'm off to a New Years Day get together with some close friends. _
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07:27:46 PM, Sunday 1 January 2011

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I woke up at 5:30 this morning. So far, I have made waffles. Let the dogs out several times. Finished painting the shelves. Done my laundry. Had Stanley taken home. Called the pharmacy for a refill.

I need to clear off my liquor cabinet (an old computer desk which we're giving my parents. I may ask for one of their extra shelves to take its place, both for books and for a new place to keep my alcohol. We also need to walk the dogs, but that will need to wait for my sister to formally rise (She's been up once to let the dogs out, but went straight back to bed). Finally, all the shelves and desks and things need to be taken to my parent's new apartment. Today shouldn't be as busy in terms of moving, but there are four large items to go, and so it could potentially be almost as strenuous.

Anyway, I'm off to fill my day with even more productivity. I hope you yourself are having a restful New Year's Day, and that whatever you happen to do today fills you with as much joy and energy as what I'm doing.

To a great start on a wonderful new year! _
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04:21:34 PM, Sunday 1 January 2011

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Happy 2012! Bring on the wonder! _
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03:12:03 AM, Sunday 1 January 2011

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The primer dried so quickly we did the purple tonight. I am sitting in the driveway with a fan blowing, and they might be ready to move tomorrow. I a feeling so productive that after I take a shower here, I think I might even have a drink to ring in the new year! _
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01:03:16 AM, Sunday 1 January 2011

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And a happy new year to everyone of my friends and family who still read this bloglet. I love you all, and hope that 2012 is a great year! _
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12:09:02 AM, Sunday 1 January 2011

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The move is done. Mostly. All the furniture. Almost all, anyway. I have drying in our garage what will be the purple shelf headboard to my mother's bed. We primed it this afternoon, and I will paint it purple in the morning. For whatever reason, my energies have not yet flagged, and so I am off to do a little more here and there around the house. At least today I didn't drive all over creation. _
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12:08:12 AM, Sunday 1 January 2011

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I used all my energy yesterday. Hopefully, once we get moving, in both senses of the word, I'll have more energy. _
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03:04:03 PM, Saturday 31 December 2011

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Tomorrow is M-Day. 9 AM, we begin moving my mother and step-father to their new apartment. We did a little of that today, taking some stuff over early, but the big items all have to go tomorrow. And since I've been up since 6:30 this morning, why am I still up? I put it to you. _
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05:54:03 AM, Saturday 31 December 2011

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O.o.C.Q.o.t.D: The vicar's coming! Quick - take off your pants! _
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11:28:37 PM, Friday 30 December 2011

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I was sad when MixApp closed its doors this past summer. I enjoyed hanging out and chatting with my friends from the blogmass, and sharing music at the same time was a plus. I don't know if I keyed anyone in on great new songs or artists, but I definitely expanded my own library because of the experience.

This morning, I learned that there are other online services like MixApp. Well, almost. Turntable.fm was the one specifically mentioned, and doing a little research returned some others, but with Turntable being "the big one." I also did a little research on what the main differences seemed to be, and came across the article on the fall of MixApp.

I don't consider myself a music nerd. A music fan, certainly. Someone who has a wide range of tastes and likes all different kinds of music definitely. Someone who can discuss the intimate details or subtleties of a song, artist or genre, not so much.

Which is why, perhaps, the complaint in the article that "most of your friends have terrible taste in music" rang completely false for me. Maybe I'm weird,* but the charm of MixApp for me was not the music alone, it was that I could chat with my friends while listening to music at the same time. I wouldn't go into a random MixApp room and just listen,. I don't go to chat rooms with random people either.** But I love chatting with my friends. The Johnnie chats have always been a wonderful opportunity to hang out and talk with people I enjoy, and MixApp made them even more wonderful.


For those of you who participated in the MixApp chats, and the old AIM Johnnie chats, what are your thoughts? What made MixApp good to you?

*OK, so no 'maybe' about it
**Do people still go into random chat rooms anymore? _
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01:51:55 PM, Friday 30 December 2011