It's hard to believe Advent is almost over! While we haven't managed to do anywhere near as much as I had hoped for Advent, it was rewarding to have my oldest comment that this year it 'feels' like Advent. I have missed the seasonal music though. I need to find a good Advent CD for next year. Any ideas?
I think the biggest challenge has been having Jeff home, not because of any problem with him, but because of our schedule being thrown off. The days have blurred together which makes it difficult to keep track of what needs to be accomplished when. There were a couple times in the last month where I didn't even remember we had to get up early for Mass the next day until Jeff reminded me. That is not a good sign. When all the kids' classes/groups start again that will help with separating the days at least. After losing yesterday to caffeine withdrawal exhaustion and a headache, I have decided that this is a bad time to try and show my body that I have control over it. Maybe in a couple weeks I'll try to cut out the coffee to reset my caffeine tolerance...
I am looking forward to Christmas, despite not being anywhere near ready for it. There are still 2 days to get something for Jeff, wrap presents, go through packed clothes and toys to find things for the little girls and work on projects like Ariana's room that still isn't done. Jeff's present should probably take priority today. I hate shopping anywhere at anytime and while it should be pretty easy to get something off his list, it means going out into the crowds, yuck! I should probably do it now before the crowds get bad. Jeff liked the idea of giving presents for the whole Christmas season so that we don't have to wrap everything at once, yeh! I may even be able to get Ariana's room done enough for painting by Epiphany, so it may still be a Christmas present afterall - though laying the floor and adding moulding would come after the paint dries.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Intelligence and Ender's Game
I have been reading Ender's Game and it has gotten me thinking. In the introduction written by Orson himself, he included part of a letter written by a woman who claims that she works with gifted kids and she emphasized that gifted kids don't think the way Orson describes in his book. I feel sorry for the kids she worked with. I remember having so-called teachers that were boring and useless because they didn't understand how we thought - or at least how I thought. I also had major issues with the popular snotty, spoiled upper middle class kids that were in the program with me. It colored my opinion enough that I couldn't wait to leave and be with my friends again, and ended up begging to be dropped out of the 'gifted' program - I did eventually get my way when I was 11 and figured out how to make them allow me out.
At the beginning of Ender's Game I had doubts about kids being able to think and talk the way that Orson described, but then I thought of my own childhood. Growing up I always observed situations before getting involved in them. I could tell you little things about people, places and situations that very few outsiders could know, just from observation. I remember being able to do so as young as 4 or 5 years old. No, I take that back, I remember an incident at around 1 year old (based upon the outfit I was wearing when the picture was taken) where my cousins and brother were teasing me with a toy and I was frustrated and knew that as soon as I got the toy from them I was going to put it where they would not take it from me. From pictures and hearing my mom tell the story, that place was in my mouth. I just remember being embarrassed when all the big people were laughing at me, and I knew I had handled things incorrectly. I may not have had the words to express my observations, feelings and thoughts, but I knew based upon the actions of those around me that I had misjudged my reaction - the boys were still wrong/mean in my mind, it was just my action that was wrong. Even my description of the incident is off a bit because I remember thinking in feelings, there was no calculated planned action or reaction as you would see in an older child, it was feelings and actions that expressed those feelings. Not an easy thing to describe. As I got older I became better at understanding what I saw and felt as well as what the expected reaction was. It was a very useful tool in school - being able to always give the answer that was wanted, whether I believed it or not.
That made me realize that it wasn't the kids in the book that made it feel off, but the way the adults acted towards the kids. If you have adults who are willing to speak to children as if they can reason and think, then they learn how to speak intelligently at younger ages. I'm sure the Wiggin children are quite a bit beyond me as far as intelligence goes, but it was the idea of what children can achieve if they are expected and allowed to think and share their thoughts. I still have trouble with my immediate reactions to comments made, in part because as a public school kid I learned that the best way to get through is to not be noticed and to above all not react (offering me very little practice to draw on today) - the kids in my school were particularly cruel. Being in a metro area full of very intelligent people, the children were naturally more likely to be intelligent and we could run circles around the teachers and yard supervisors who were one step above bumbling idiots. Well, that's not entirely fair. Every now and then there was an intelligent teacher, but I don't think they had the time nor inclination to actually pay attention to how the kids treated each other. My siblings did not handle the cruelty well and still are scarred from it. I created my own gang of outcasts (few of whom were in the 'gifted' class) and when we were together no one teased us. I think the teasing was all that much more insidious because these bright kids knew how to find a kids weakness and then exploit it - much like the 6-9 year olds in Ender's Game. Looking back, it really amazed me how well he did at describing intelligent children.
Taking that thought one step further, I realized how sad it is that we as a society feel only the "gifted" kids should be given opportunities in school to be removed from the classroom/jail cell to learn in new ways using teamwork and problem solving. There is a program in Washington that I have heard amazing things about that offers kids a real education - hands on, problem solving situations where they must use their intellect to find solutions (including studying on their own time to prepare for the next challenge). As neat as it sounds, I'm sure that even the most 'average' child would be able to excel in such an environment.
Just as Orson points out in Ender's Game, the real learning was in the Battleroom where kids had to think in order to win. There is no reason to force kids to "learn the basics" before being able to use them. You don't spend years teaching a child about music: what it is, how it is made, the meaning behind certain songs, how to compose songs, etc before ever allowing them to hear a song! Just the opposite. They listen to music and almost all will sing long before they understand melody, instruments, etc. Then once they have a firm grasp of what something is, they will learn more about it out of natural curiosity. Some kids will learn more than others based upon desire or need (if you have a musical parent or siblings you have a vested interest in understanding what they are talking about). Other kids are content to know just the name of certain instruments they see and a few definitions they will hear others throw around and that is it. Even if you took said unmusical child and forced them into years of musical schooling, they would still not be interested and would probably end up hating music. It is impossible to force someone to learn something they don't care about.
Unschooling has nothing to do with not learning or forcing learning, but everything to do with need. If you want your child to value reading, then show them why it is valuable. Same with science, math, art, music, etc. Different kids will take things to different levels and you as the unschooling educator must be paying attention to where they are so that you can help them find more information on what they are interested in at that time.
More on unschooling next time I can sit and type.
I am very much enjoying Ender's Game.
At the beginning of Ender's Game I had doubts about kids being able to think and talk the way that Orson described, but then I thought of my own childhood. Growing up I always observed situations before getting involved in them. I could tell you little things about people, places and situations that very few outsiders could know, just from observation. I remember being able to do so as young as 4 or 5 years old. No, I take that back, I remember an incident at around 1 year old (based upon the outfit I was wearing when the picture was taken) where my cousins and brother were teasing me with a toy and I was frustrated and knew that as soon as I got the toy from them I was going to put it where they would not take it from me. From pictures and hearing my mom tell the story, that place was in my mouth. I just remember being embarrassed when all the big people were laughing at me, and I knew I had handled things incorrectly. I may not have had the words to express my observations, feelings and thoughts, but I knew based upon the actions of those around me that I had misjudged my reaction - the boys were still wrong/mean in my mind, it was just my action that was wrong. Even my description of the incident is off a bit because I remember thinking in feelings, there was no calculated planned action or reaction as you would see in an older child, it was feelings and actions that expressed those feelings. Not an easy thing to describe. As I got older I became better at understanding what I saw and felt as well as what the expected reaction was. It was a very useful tool in school - being able to always give the answer that was wanted, whether I believed it or not.
That made me realize that it wasn't the kids in the book that made it feel off, but the way the adults acted towards the kids. If you have adults who are willing to speak to children as if they can reason and think, then they learn how to speak intelligently at younger ages. I'm sure the Wiggin children are quite a bit beyond me as far as intelligence goes, but it was the idea of what children can achieve if they are expected and allowed to think and share their thoughts. I still have trouble with my immediate reactions to comments made, in part because as a public school kid I learned that the best way to get through is to not be noticed and to above all not react (offering me very little practice to draw on today) - the kids in my school were particularly cruel. Being in a metro area full of very intelligent people, the children were naturally more likely to be intelligent and we could run circles around the teachers and yard supervisors who were one step above bumbling idiots. Well, that's not entirely fair. Every now and then there was an intelligent teacher, but I don't think they had the time nor inclination to actually pay attention to how the kids treated each other. My siblings did not handle the cruelty well and still are scarred from it. I created my own gang of outcasts (few of whom were in the 'gifted' class) and when we were together no one teased us. I think the teasing was all that much more insidious because these bright kids knew how to find a kids weakness and then exploit it - much like the 6-9 year olds in Ender's Game. Looking back, it really amazed me how well he did at describing intelligent children.
Taking that thought one step further, I realized how sad it is that we as a society feel only the "gifted" kids should be given opportunities in school to be removed from the classroom/jail cell to learn in new ways using teamwork and problem solving. There is a program in Washington that I have heard amazing things about that offers kids a real education - hands on, problem solving situations where they must use their intellect to find solutions (including studying on their own time to prepare for the next challenge). As neat as it sounds, I'm sure that even the most 'average' child would be able to excel in such an environment.
Just as Orson points out in Ender's Game, the real learning was in the Battleroom where kids had to think in order to win. There is no reason to force kids to "learn the basics" before being able to use them. You don't spend years teaching a child about music: what it is, how it is made, the meaning behind certain songs, how to compose songs, etc before ever allowing them to hear a song! Just the opposite. They listen to music and almost all will sing long before they understand melody, instruments, etc. Then once they have a firm grasp of what something is, they will learn more about it out of natural curiosity. Some kids will learn more than others based upon desire or need (if you have a musical parent or siblings you have a vested interest in understanding what they are talking about). Other kids are content to know just the name of certain instruments they see and a few definitions they will hear others throw around and that is it. Even if you took said unmusical child and forced them into years of musical schooling, they would still not be interested and would probably end up hating music. It is impossible to force someone to learn something they don't care about.
Unschooling has nothing to do with not learning or forcing learning, but everything to do with need. If you want your child to value reading, then show them why it is valuable. Same with science, math, art, music, etc. Different kids will take things to different levels and you as the unschooling educator must be paying attention to where they are so that you can help them find more information on what they are interested in at that time.
More on unschooling next time I can sit and type.
I am very much enjoying Ender's Game.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
A Downside of Secular Groups
The kids belong to 2 book groups, one younger and one 'tween' through our public library. We have been involved with them for a couple years now and have greatly enjoyed the social time as well as being exposed to some very interesting stories. There have been times that the books are not very good and we either skip them altogether or talk about them on our own before Book Group. I almost always go in with the kids and a few of us moms have gotten carried away with our own thoughts on the book - though we have gotten better about making sure the kids are the main ones talking. It has been a great experience overall.
I knew getting into this group that they were secular, and one of the other families was very secular - not openly anti-Christian or anti-religion, just not interested in religion at all, and the other one who came regularly had a Christian background and has no problem with religion, she just doesn't go out of her way to have it a part of her family's life. I have known the families in this group since we first started homeschooling and they helped me through those first rough years (meaning I have known them for about 9 years). We all unschool, so we have also had that in common and it has always been pleasant to be around them. When my oldest was in a homeschool girlscout troop, we saw these moms weekly and when the kids were in science classes at the local science museum and homeschool swimming, I got to see them three times a week for a couple hours at a time. One would assume these moms know me very well.
Since unschoolers unfortunately tend to be secular or even downright hostile towards religion, I have been used to being the odd-man-out in any group we are in. I am either the weird Christian or I am the weird Unschooler. It isn't too bad, it is how things are and I have no intention of changing to 'fit in' with either group.
But I digress, we always have a special craft at our December get-together so we were discussing what toppings could go on our hot cocoa cones, and candy canes came up. The leader of the group (not a mom, but a very nice lady who volunteers through the library), commented that once she 'found out' the meaning behind candy canes she could no longer eat them. Of course the question came up of what that meaning was and she said she hoped she didn't offend anyone, but candy canes are white for purity and red for the blood of Christ and she just couldn't eat them after that. The tension in the room went up as eyes turned to me to see if I would be "offended", and I honestly replied I have never liked candy canes. Hard candy and the type of mint they are just doesn't appeal to me. It bothers me that this was even an issue, with her or with anyone else in the group. I think it odd that you would stop eating something you liked because of a supposed meaning behind it that is so old very few people know or even care about that meaning, but I'm sure I have equally quirky things. Even more disturbing than the attitude of rejecting something specifically because of its Christian roots (though I'm sure her family finds some way to look past the Christian tradition of giving gifts and makes it their own), is the attitude that I might be the one to cause a problem about this. I was not really raised with any religion, my husband is not Catholic and most of my extended family is not Catholic - on my husband's side they are non-denominational and my side is mostly fallen away Catholic with my dad being New Age. I have never been one to judge the religious preferences of others nor to preach loudly about my own Faith. I am Catholic and I live my life in a Catholic way and raise my children to do the same. Anyone who knows me knows that I am very devoted to my Faith, but I had never gotten the impression that it was an issue. Of course the candy cane incident being an issue may be a fabrication of my 'fragile' hormonal state, but it still bothers me. I'm sure I will get over it, but I have visions of awkward situations in the future - esp next Book Group - where we all try to be ultra-PC and not 'offend' anyone. It didn't help that she wrapped up with, "Enjoy this holiday season however you celebrate it."
I would hate to lose the last ties to these unschoolers as I don't have any other unschooling friends to share with, and it is hard to share homeschooling frustrations and concerns with school-at-home types when philosophies are so different. We will see how it goes.
I suppose one could argue that the Holy Rosary and Holy Redeemer homeschool groups are ruining me! I have gotten used to talking about anything without holding back as well as celebrating Feast Days, sharing liturgical season traditions, talking politics, etc. I don't fit in perfectly with the groups (and find that I have to bite my tongue quite a bit when homeschooling styles comes up), but maybe I am becoming more sensitive to religious issues because I am immersed in these wonderful Catholic communities causing my normally thick skin to thin. If I had to choose unschoolers or Catholic, I will stay with the Catholic groups - though my ability to not comment on education styles may diminish as time goes on.
I knew getting into this group that they were secular, and one of the other families was very secular - not openly anti-Christian or anti-religion, just not interested in religion at all, and the other one who came regularly had a Christian background and has no problem with religion, she just doesn't go out of her way to have it a part of her family's life. I have known the families in this group since we first started homeschooling and they helped me through those first rough years (meaning I have known them for about 9 years). We all unschool, so we have also had that in common and it has always been pleasant to be around them. When my oldest was in a homeschool girlscout troop, we saw these moms weekly and when the kids were in science classes at the local science museum and homeschool swimming, I got to see them three times a week for a couple hours at a time. One would assume these moms know me very well.
Since unschoolers unfortunately tend to be secular or even downright hostile towards religion, I have been used to being the odd-man-out in any group we are in. I am either the weird Christian or I am the weird Unschooler. It isn't too bad, it is how things are and I have no intention of changing to 'fit in' with either group.
But I digress, we always have a special craft at our December get-together so we were discussing what toppings could go on our hot cocoa cones, and candy canes came up. The leader of the group (not a mom, but a very nice lady who volunteers through the library), commented that once she 'found out' the meaning behind candy canes she could no longer eat them. Of course the question came up of what that meaning was and she said she hoped she didn't offend anyone, but candy canes are white for purity and red for the blood of Christ and she just couldn't eat them after that. The tension in the room went up as eyes turned to me to see if I would be "offended", and I honestly replied I have never liked candy canes. Hard candy and the type of mint they are just doesn't appeal to me. It bothers me that this was even an issue, with her or with anyone else in the group. I think it odd that you would stop eating something you liked because of a supposed meaning behind it that is so old very few people know or even care about that meaning, but I'm sure I have equally quirky things. Even more disturbing than the attitude of rejecting something specifically because of its Christian roots (though I'm sure her family finds some way to look past the Christian tradition of giving gifts and makes it their own), is the attitude that I might be the one to cause a problem about this. I was not really raised with any religion, my husband is not Catholic and most of my extended family is not Catholic - on my husband's side they are non-denominational and my side is mostly fallen away Catholic with my dad being New Age. I have never been one to judge the religious preferences of others nor to preach loudly about my own Faith. I am Catholic and I live my life in a Catholic way and raise my children to do the same. Anyone who knows me knows that I am very devoted to my Faith, but I had never gotten the impression that it was an issue. Of course the candy cane incident being an issue may be a fabrication of my 'fragile' hormonal state, but it still bothers me. I'm sure I will get over it, but I have visions of awkward situations in the future - esp next Book Group - where we all try to be ultra-PC and not 'offend' anyone. It didn't help that she wrapped up with, "Enjoy this holiday season however you celebrate it."
I would hate to lose the last ties to these unschoolers as I don't have any other unschooling friends to share with, and it is hard to share homeschooling frustrations and concerns with school-at-home types when philosophies are so different. We will see how it goes.
I suppose one could argue that the Holy Rosary and Holy Redeemer homeschool groups are ruining me! I have gotten used to talking about anything without holding back as well as celebrating Feast Days, sharing liturgical season traditions, talking politics, etc. I don't fit in perfectly with the groups (and find that I have to bite my tongue quite a bit when homeschooling styles comes up), but maybe I am becoming more sensitive to religious issues because I am immersed in these wonderful Catholic communities causing my normally thick skin to thin. If I had to choose unschoolers or Catholic, I will stay with the Catholic groups - though my ability to not comment on education styles may diminish as time goes on.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
One More Tidbit because I Can't Resist...
"You aren’t compelled to loan your car to anyone who wants it, but you are compelled to surrender your school-age child to strangers who process children for a livelihood, even though one in every nine schoolchildren is terrified of physical harm happening to them in school, terrified with good cause; about thirty-three are murdered there every year. From 1992 through 1999, 262 children were murdered in school in the United States. Your great-great-grandmother didn’t have to surrender her children. What happened?
If I demanded you give up your television to an anonymous, itinerant repairman who needed work you’d think I was crazy; if I came with a policeman who forced you to pay that repairman even after he broke your set, you would be outraged. Why are you so docile when you give up your child to a government agent called a schoolteacher?" John Taylor Gatto
True, so true...
One of the many reasons I love John Taylor Gatto's, The Underground History of American Education.
If I demanded you give up your television to an anonymous, itinerant repairman who needed work you’d think I was crazy; if I came with a policeman who forced you to pay that repairman even after he broke your set, you would be outraged. Why are you so docile when you give up your child to a government agent called a schoolteacher?" John Taylor Gatto
True, so true...
One of the many reasons I love John Taylor Gatto's, The Underground History of American Education.
Fascinating Documentary
Have you ever wondered where money comes from? Chances are it is not what you think!
I really didn't like the bank (and other) bail-outs before, but now...wow! Something just seemed off about the bank situation and now I have a better idea what it is.
Interestingly enough, it was the Carnegies, Rockefellers, etc who were so instrumental in implementing forced schooling as we know it. Kinda makes sense why schools don't talk about money after watching this documentary. I highly recommend it.
If you like it, check out Money As Debt II: Promises Unleashed (also on youtube) and also their website:
http://moneyasdebt.net/
I really didn't like the bank (and other) bail-outs before, but now...wow! Something just seemed off about the bank situation and now I have a better idea what it is.
Interestingly enough, it was the Carnegies, Rockefellers, etc who were so instrumental in implementing forced schooling as we know it. Kinda makes sense why schools don't talk about money after watching this documentary. I highly recommend it.
If you like it, check out Money As Debt II: Promises Unleashed (also on youtube) and also their website:
http://moneyasdebt.net/
Great Day!!!
Jeff comes home today!!!
It will be nice to have him home. As he pointed out though, he is unemployed now, so he will be home a lot. It will be interesting to see what kind of new routine we get worked out. I am still excited though! The kids can hardly wait too. Poor Serenity yesterday looked outside and saw Daddy's car (I moved it the night before), and was dancing and saying "Daddy's home! Daddy's home!" I had to break the news to her that he was not actually home yet.
I didn't manage to get the things I wanted done yesterday. I don't know why, it just didn't happen. The key seems to be going and starting the work. I can usually finish it once I start it, but when no one wants to go, it is hard to take that first step.
Hopefully today will be better. I'm going to focus on clothes: putting away summer, breaking out winter and maybe starting to sort what I want to keep and get rid of. Since I suspect the baby (we really need a nickname!) is a boy, I really need to go through clothes and see if I have things that are not stained, ripped, etc. I seem to remember the boys wearing neutral things because I didn't have much for boys, and when they were a bit older they managed to destroy what they wore. One of those things better done sooner.
It is shaping up to be a good, busy day.
It will be nice to have him home. As he pointed out though, he is unemployed now, so he will be home a lot. It will be interesting to see what kind of new routine we get worked out. I am still excited though! The kids can hardly wait too. Poor Serenity yesterday looked outside and saw Daddy's car (I moved it the night before), and was dancing and saying "Daddy's home! Daddy's home!" I had to break the news to her that he was not actually home yet.
I didn't manage to get the things I wanted done yesterday. I don't know why, it just didn't happen. The key seems to be going and starting the work. I can usually finish it once I start it, but when no one wants to go, it is hard to take that first step.
Hopefully today will be better. I'm going to focus on clothes: putting away summer, breaking out winter and maybe starting to sort what I want to keep and get rid of. Since I suspect the baby (we really need a nickname!) is a boy, I really need to go through clothes and see if I have things that are not stained, ripped, etc. I seem to remember the boys wearing neutral things because I didn't have much for boys, and when they were a bit older they managed to destroy what they wore. One of those things better done sooner.
It is shaping up to be a good, busy day.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Simple Woman's Daybook - November 18th, 2009
The Simple Woman’s Daybookis hosted by Peggy at The Simple Woman’s Daybook
Thank you Peggy.
FOR TODAY November 18th, 2009...
Outside my window... the storm seems to have passed. There are some clouds, but some blue sky too. It looks cold and is a bit windy, but may be nice enough for us to get some of the yard work done. Wow, I see the sun shining as it rises between the trees.
I am thinking... I hate allergies. Maybe I can get an allergy test done and see if there is anything I can cut out to make things better (pregnancy may rule it out). Something at Grandpa's house triggered my allergies last night... I wonder if it was something in the candy he was sharing that tipped me over because I was fine inside before - though I am still having issues this morning so maybe not. I need to take a shower and find a new sweater, I'm sure that will help.
I am thankful for... not having anaphylactic reactions to anything. A bit of sneezing and itchy watery eyes is much better than having to carry around an Epi-pen and all that goes with such severe reactions.
From the learning rooms... We got a good chunk of our first timeline finished last night. We have to erase the pencil outlines and hang it today. Then the kids will be adding to it. We decided to start with the beginning of time and work our way forward. I found a neat chart that breaks down the Precambrian, Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic Eras. The kids will add creatures, plants, etc that may have been found during the various periods, and Ariana was interested in drawing the Earth's land masses of the period - what we suspect they were anyway. While this is not a required thing for the kids to partake in, it is there and they all sounded interested. We'll see how it goes. I'm looking forward to more recent history, but the kids wanted to start at the beginning - can't say that I blame them.
From the kitchen... what can I make for breakfast that will use 4 eggs or less? Not the breakfast burritos that are on the calendar for today! I need to think of something soon since the kids will be up pretty quickly.
I am wearing... pajamas. The baby tricked me into spending 45 minutes trying to put her back to sleep before she decided to get up at 6:45. It wasn't too bad - I wanted to get up at 6 anyway. She's reading books now, so I am able to type, but a shower was not an option when she was demanding my full attention earlier.
I am creating... the timeline, also I brought up the Advent binder to start thinking about what we will do for Advent (we've never managed to do anything), and I found another binder for SWAAT (pro-life group) stuff so I can start organizing my thoughts there.
I am going... maybe to a friend's house, maybe staying home, we'll see.
I am reading... Cabinet of Curiosities, I am close to the end. Peter Reinhart's Whole Grain Breads is in at the library for me to pick up. I look forward to reading it!
I am hoping... that I can manage to get at least 1 thing done on my 6+ month old To Do list. I told the kids we would work on the clothes some, enough to break out the winter things, put away summer things and maybe condense some of the overflowing pile of bins and bags in the basement. I really need to clean up the garage enough to have a place to bring up things that will go away - not to mention actually get rid of said things.
I am hearing... quiet, except for Serenity's occasional words as she reads a book to herself. Now its my turn to read to her.
Around the house... still looking pretty good. Ariana needs to work on the kitchen and I need to sweep my bedroom. Then there is always dirty laundry downstairs.
One of my favorite things... The Northwest. In CA the seasons consisted of rainy and dry, and while I am well aware of the more extreme changes in the rest of the country, I find the Northwest seasons charming. Random people I chat with have commented on 'Winter' being here, and I remind them that the rain is still warm and the days are still reaching the 60s regularly, so it isn't Winter yet! We are well into Fall and it feels like Fall, but it definitely is not Winter. I like the mild changes and all the evergreens, it just feels... right. I'm sure other places are beautiful and have their own charm, but I am perfectly happy here.
A few plans for the rest of the week: Wait and see when Jeff will come home - he may stay a bit longer so that the trainees, anchors and supervisor can put their new skills to work and have their questions answered; keep working on the To Do list (I got almost everything on my daily list done yesterday!) - work on the basement, pick up the yard, install my under cabinet radio birthday present; have the kids finish their chores. A lot of the last part of the week will be dependent on when Jeff comes home.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...
Ariana talked me into letting her keep the spare paper for a parchment. We have to figure out how to treat the paper to make it look old, and either before or after Ariana will add some of the fantasy languages she has picked up from various books. She figures part of the Book of the People from the Artemis Fowl series, Dragon script from the Dragonology book, the prophecies from the Gregor books and something else I can't think of now. Maybe I can get her to throw some Latin in there too since the paper is so long. Monday, November 16, 2009
Simple Woman's Daybook - November 16th, 2009
The Simple Woman’s Daybook
is hosted by Peggy at The Simple Woman’s Daybook
Thank you Peggy.
FOR TODAY
November 16th, 2009
is hosted by Peggy at The Simple Woman’s Daybook
Thank you Peggy.
FOR TODAY
November 16th, 2009
Outside my window... a typical Portland Fall day: grey with rain off and on
I am thinking... I need to get my laptop in to be repaired and pick up a few things
I am thankful for... my husband. I need to find a way to let him know how much I appreciate all he does.
From the learning rooms... finishing CCD homework in-between the running around and heading out for CCD. RCC review would be good too. I need to get the timeline up too, maybe that would be a good evening project.
From the kitchen... the kids are finishing their malt-o-meal and whenever I get back from errands I need to get the lasagne together for dinner tonight.
I am wearing... a navy shirt, pajama pants and my ugly shoes (most people call them generic Crocs). I forgot to lay out clothes last night and had to wait for the little girls to wake up so I could get them - and since the only working computer is now in the bedroom, I figured I'd stop and throw this post up before getting dressed and out the door.
I am creating... in theory an outline/curriculum for the pro-life group, an outline for summer vacation bible school (I may be able to get paid for this if I can get it done before Christmas).
I am going... to several stores, CCD and ballet. Elora esp looks forward to this day all week long. I'm supposed to have treats for her to share with her friends to celebrate her birthday... hmm... need to work on that.
I am reading... Cabinet of Curiosities by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, my favorite authors. I think this is the 4th time I've read this book. I just finished my 5th reading of Relic and 4th reading of Thunderhead also books of theirs. I think Relic is my favorite.
I am hoping... that I can get at least 2 or 3 things done on my To Do list this week - the things that I've had on there for the last 6+ months.
I am hearing... the kids talking in the living room, the baby telling them about the pictures in the book she found and Elora getting ready for ballet - she cannot wait!
Around the house... the house is almost clean because we had guests this weekend, so the kids should be able to get their chores done quickly and with minimal complaining.
One of my favorite things... going to bed early enough to read for a while and then get up at 6am without feeling over-tired.
A few plans for the rest of the week: Book group, helping my dad at his place, packing summer clothes and unpacking winter clothes, a few things on my To Do list - maybe going through and starting to get rid of extra clothes and/or cleaning out the garage some more, picking Jeff up at the airport!
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...
Jeff's dad and brother came for a short visit. It was very enjoyable.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
A few updates
My oldest has been complaining about the old picture I had up, so she chose a new one. It was a fun day at the zoo and my biggest child (also known as my husband) was in his usual goofy mood as they stood in front of a bear height chart.
I also figured now that I have a due date it was time to make the announcement about baby number 7 due April 23rd!
I also figured now that I have a due date it was time to make the announcement about baby number 7 due April 23rd!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
The other day I had an interesting discussion with a friend about doctors. I realized something that may be related to seeing a Naturopath instead of an MD, but I think ultimately affects all medical practices. When you, as the patient, are paying for services out of your pocket instead of through insurance (or there are a large percentage of people who do), you tend to get better customer service. The receptionist, nurses and doctors know that you can and will go elsewhere if you are not happy, so they go out of their way to work with you.
There is also the nice little thing about smaller offices knowing their patients, and therefore being more courteous (like calling you when your appt is cancelled instead of letting you fall through the cracks - I have never experienced this, but my friend recently did). When dealing with an HMO that has many doctors in the practice and strict regulations about how many patients an hour they must see, patients are the ones who suffer. You don't get the time you need and you don't get to develop a relationship with your doctor.
Having said that, we recently found a doctor who is on my husband's HMO who takes his time with patients and warns them that you will not be seen on-time because of this. I have been very impressed with him so far, and Jeff goes to see him again on Monday.
With all the talk of government-run health care, I have been more aware of the power of choices in medical care. I don't want to see any entity, whether a big insurance company or our government, step in and tell us how we should receive health care. I like the idea of a health insurance plan that you shop around for on your own and get to deduct the premiums. This puts the power back into the hands of you, the consumer. With that kind of responsibility, you are more likely to watch how much you are charged and maybe even demand things like tort reform! It is amazing how much of a difference there is in one's behavior when you have to be responsible.
There is also the nice little thing about smaller offices knowing their patients, and therefore being more courteous (like calling you when your appt is cancelled instead of letting you fall through the cracks - I have never experienced this, but my friend recently did). When dealing with an HMO that has many doctors in the practice and strict regulations about how many patients an hour they must see, patients are the ones who suffer. You don't get the time you need and you don't get to develop a relationship with your doctor.
Having said that, we recently found a doctor who is on my husband's HMO who takes his time with patients and warns them that you will not be seen on-time because of this. I have been very impressed with him so far, and Jeff goes to see him again on Monday.
With all the talk of government-run health care, I have been more aware of the power of choices in medical care. I don't want to see any entity, whether a big insurance company or our government, step in and tell us how we should receive health care. I like the idea of a health insurance plan that you shop around for on your own and get to deduct the premiums. This puts the power back into the hands of you, the consumer. With that kind of responsibility, you are more likely to watch how much you are charged and maybe even demand things like tort reform! It is amazing how much of a difference there is in one's behavior when you have to be responsible.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Saint Quotes
I'm working on a project and really liked these quotes from http://www.catholictradition.org/Saints/saintly-quotes2.htm.
"You say you see no reason why we should pray to the Saints since God can hear us and help us just as well, and will do so gladly, as any Saint in Heaven. Well, then, what need, I ask, do you have to ask any physician to help your fever, or to ask and pay any surgeon to heal your sore leg? For God can both hear you and help you as well as the best of doctors. He loves you more than they do, and He can help you sooner. Besides-----His poultices are cheaper and He will give you more for your words alone than they will for your money!"
-------- St. Thomas More
"Never read books you aren't sure about . . . even supposing that these bad books are very well written from a literary point of view. Let me ask you this: Would you drink something you knew was poisoned just because it was offered to you in a golden cup?"
--------St. John Bosco
"Whenever anything disagreeable or displeasing happens to you, remember Christ crucified and be silent."
--------St. John of the Cross
When tempted, invoke your Angel. he is more eager to help you than you are to be helped! Ignore the devil and do not be afraid of him: He trembles and flees at the sight of your Guardian Angel.
--------St. John Bosco
We can't have full knowledge all at once. We must start by believing; then afterwards we may be led on to master the evidence for ourselves.
--------St. Thomas Aquinas
When we speak about wisdom, we are speaking of Christ. When we speak about virtue, we are speaking of Christ. When we speak about justice, we are speaking of Christ. When we speak about peace, we are speaking of Christ. When we speak about truth and life and redemption, we are speaking of Christ.
--------St. Ambrose of Milan
Just as in one man there is one soul and one body, yet many members;
even so the Catholic Church is one body, having many members. The soul that quickens this body is the Holy Spirit; and therefore in the Creed after confessing our belief in the Holy Spirit, we are bid to believe in the Holy Catholic Church.
--------St. Thomas Aquinas
I will go peaceably and firmly to the Catholic Church: for if Faith is so important to our salvation, I will seek it where true Faith first began, seek it among those who received it from God Himself.
--------St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
The Church has ever proved indestructible. Her persecutors have failed to destroy her; in fact, it was during times of persecution that the Church
grew more and more; while the persecutors themselves, and those whom the Church would destroy, are the very ones who came to nothing. . . .
Again, errors have assailed her; but in fact, the greater the number of errors that have arisen, the more has the truth been made manifest. . . . Nor has the Church failed before the assaults of demons: for she is like a tower of refuge to all who fight against the Devil.
--------St. Thomas Aquinas
If it is "daily bread," why do you take it once a year? . . . Take daily what is to profit you daily. Live in such a way that you may deserve to receive it daily. He who does not deserve to receive it daily, does not deserve to receive it once a year.
--------St. Ambrose of Milan
Whoever does not seek the cross of Christ doesn't seek the glory of Christ.
--------St. John of the Cross
"You say you see no reason why we should pray to the Saints since God can hear us and help us just as well, and will do so gladly, as any Saint in Heaven. Well, then, what need, I ask, do you have to ask any physician to help your fever, or to ask and pay any surgeon to heal your sore leg? For God can both hear you and help you as well as the best of doctors. He loves you more than they do, and He can help you sooner. Besides-----His poultices are cheaper and He will give you more for your words alone than they will for your money!"
-------- St. Thomas More
"Never read books you aren't sure about . . . even supposing that these bad books are very well written from a literary point of view. Let me ask you this: Would you drink something you knew was poisoned just because it was offered to you in a golden cup?"
--------St. John Bosco
"Whenever anything disagreeable or displeasing happens to you, remember Christ crucified and be silent."
--------St. John of the Cross
When tempted, invoke your Angel. he is more eager to help you than you are to be helped! Ignore the devil and do not be afraid of him: He trembles and flees at the sight of your Guardian Angel.
--------St. John Bosco
We can't have full knowledge all at once. We must start by believing; then afterwards we may be led on to master the evidence for ourselves.
--------St. Thomas Aquinas
When we speak about wisdom, we are speaking of Christ. When we speak about virtue, we are speaking of Christ. When we speak about justice, we are speaking of Christ. When we speak about peace, we are speaking of Christ. When we speak about truth and life and redemption, we are speaking of Christ.
--------St. Ambrose of Milan
Just as in one man there is one soul and one body, yet many members;
even so the Catholic Church is one body, having many members. The soul that quickens this body is the Holy Spirit; and therefore in the Creed after confessing our belief in the Holy Spirit, we are bid to believe in the Holy Catholic Church.
--------St. Thomas Aquinas
I will go peaceably and firmly to the Catholic Church: for if Faith is so important to our salvation, I will seek it where true Faith first began, seek it among those who received it from God Himself.
--------St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
The Church has ever proved indestructible. Her persecutors have failed to destroy her; in fact, it was during times of persecution that the Church
grew more and more; while the persecutors themselves, and those whom the Church would destroy, are the very ones who came to nothing. . . .
Again, errors have assailed her; but in fact, the greater the number of errors that have arisen, the more has the truth been made manifest. . . . Nor has the Church failed before the assaults of demons: for she is like a tower of refuge to all who fight against the Devil.
--------St. Thomas Aquinas
If it is "daily bread," why do you take it once a year? . . . Take daily what is to profit you daily. Live in such a way that you may deserve to receive it daily. He who does not deserve to receive it daily, does not deserve to receive it once a year.
--------St. Ambrose of Milan
Whoever does not seek the cross of Christ doesn't seek the glory of Christ.
--------St. John of the Cross
Thursday, October 1, 2009
"Large Arachnid" Bugs the Pope
Apparently this is a big deal in the secular media - at least radio stations according to Jeff.
OK, first of all that is not a "large arachnid". I have bigger spiders in my house! Yes they creep me out, and I don't like to run across them, but seriously people, lets not take the exaggeration too far!
I can't decide if the distraction made it so very few listened to the speech, or if overall more people will hear the message because of the publicity. What I heard of Benedict XVI's talk sounded interesting, and it is sad that people (myself included!) can be so easily distracted. I suppose that would be an argument in favor of the spider being there for bad reasons. Having a budding entomologist, I am aware that there are actually very few poisonous spiders in any given area, and the spiders want nothing more than to be left alone, so the chances that the Pope was in any kind of danger were very slim.
I went on to read the comments, and the number of anti-Catholic and anti-Pope sentiments was not surprising, but the one person claiming to be Catholic who commented that Catholics worship the Pope kinda got to me. I wish Catholics knew their faith better, but I suppose trying to stand up for your faith when it is criticized is better than saying nothing...well, maybe not. You know, finding answers to questions like that just isn't very hard, and then you can sound like you know what you are talking about instead of further confusing a group of anti-Catholics.
I do find it interesting that Pope Benedict XVI is looked at with such vehement hatred from Atheists and Secularists. He's doing something right because they feel it necessary to try and tear him down instead of ignoring him!
OK, first of all that is not a "large arachnid". I have bigger spiders in my house! Yes they creep me out, and I don't like to run across them, but seriously people, lets not take the exaggeration too far!
I can't decide if the distraction made it so very few listened to the speech, or if overall more people will hear the message because of the publicity. What I heard of Benedict XVI's talk sounded interesting, and it is sad that people (myself included!) can be so easily distracted. I suppose that would be an argument in favor of the spider being there for bad reasons. Having a budding entomologist, I am aware that there are actually very few poisonous spiders in any given area, and the spiders want nothing more than to be left alone, so the chances that the Pope was in any kind of danger were very slim.
I went on to read the comments, and the number of anti-Catholic and anti-Pope sentiments was not surprising, but the one person claiming to be Catholic who commented that Catholics worship the Pope kinda got to me. I wish Catholics knew their faith better, but I suppose trying to stand up for your faith when it is criticized is better than saying nothing...well, maybe not. You know, finding answers to questions like that just isn't very hard, and then you can sound like you know what you are talking about instead of further confusing a group of anti-Catholics.
I do find it interesting that Pope Benedict XVI is looked at with such vehement hatred from Atheists and Secularists. He's doing something right because they feel it necessary to try and tear him down instead of ignoring him!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
I just had a terrible dream (if I don't wake up on the verge of screaming it isn't a nightmare), and it got me thinking.
Should 'we' as parents, educators, etc be teaching our girls to be comfortable with saying "No" at the same time as protecting them from potentially bad situations? You don't have to tell a girl all the horrible aweful things that can happen to her in order to get her comfortable with saying "No." My boys are very good at it, and they use it frequently. However, I hear it much less from my girls. I have a friend whose husband wrestles with both of their young kids in part to teach their daughter that it is ok to say "Stop" or "No" and that whatever is going on should and will end when she says it. Back in the 60s, a step-relative who was a teenager got her first job and a certain boss was known to come by and grope all the girls standing in a line working, when he touched my relative, she, without thinking (to use her own words), dug her nails into his hand and scratched him rather deeply. She was then so terrified that she ran home, which led to having to explain to her parents what happened. Being a large Catholic Italian family led by a strong Dad, I don't know what happened to the boss, but I'm sure it was not pretty.
In my own experience, there are times where saying "No" would have helped, and times where it could have made things worse. I don't know what is better. At least with being comfortable saying "No" there is a chance that it will work. I suppose making sure the kids are not in situations where they are faced with that kind of choice is the best solution, but they do have to go out eventually. I am not proposing that 6 year olds need to start working on 'saying No curriculum', and I think my 12 year old daughter understands enough to know how to protect herself. I just still have visions in my head of the kind of attitude my sister had where it is "no big deal" and it "doesn't matter" because it was the only way she could cope with what happened to her. It is scary to think about how little we have control over in life. I wouldn't trade it though. Free will is worth the pain and suffering.
I suppose my dream convinced me that volunteering is still a few years off - which was something I was debating about. Though certain supervised groups we are in would be ok.
Should 'we' as parents, educators, etc be teaching our girls to be comfortable with saying "No" at the same time as protecting them from potentially bad situations? You don't have to tell a girl all the horrible aweful things that can happen to her in order to get her comfortable with saying "No." My boys are very good at it, and they use it frequently. However, I hear it much less from my girls. I have a friend whose husband wrestles with both of their young kids in part to teach their daughter that it is ok to say "Stop" or "No" and that whatever is going on should and will end when she says it. Back in the 60s, a step-relative who was a teenager got her first job and a certain boss was known to come by and grope all the girls standing in a line working, when he touched my relative, she, without thinking (to use her own words), dug her nails into his hand and scratched him rather deeply. She was then so terrified that she ran home, which led to having to explain to her parents what happened. Being a large Catholic Italian family led by a strong Dad, I don't know what happened to the boss, but I'm sure it was not pretty.
In my own experience, there are times where saying "No" would have helped, and times where it could have made things worse. I don't know what is better. At least with being comfortable saying "No" there is a chance that it will work. I suppose making sure the kids are not in situations where they are faced with that kind of choice is the best solution, but they do have to go out eventually. I am not proposing that 6 year olds need to start working on 'saying No curriculum', and I think my 12 year old daughter understands enough to know how to protect herself. I just still have visions in my head of the kind of attitude my sister had where it is "no big deal" and it "doesn't matter" because it was the only way she could cope with what happened to her. It is scary to think about how little we have control over in life. I wouldn't trade it though. Free will is worth the pain and suffering.
I suppose my dream convinced me that volunteering is still a few years off - which was something I was debating about. Though certain supervised groups we are in would be ok.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Obama Education Speech
Oh where, oh where to even begin after the nausea settles (I could hear his voice in my head as I read it, yuck!). The contradictions astound me! First of all the Founding Fathers did NOT sit in classrooms like we have today - being particularly touchy on the issue of forced schooling and dumbing down kids I find it insulting to pretend our flawed education system has been around that long or was that successful at producing intelligent adults with critical thinking skills. But here is the real cincher, it takes hard work, dedication and perseverance to be successful (I didn't want to torture myself or you with the long winded quotes it would have taken to put that down) no matter what your circumstance, but "I'm working hard to fix up your classrooms and get you the books, equipment and computers you need to learn." So, lay out goals and work hard and make sure the government is able to give the schools more money so that kids can have what they need to learn and everyone will be successful.
One more little thing, isn't it interesting that he feels it necessary to let kids know chances are they will not be sucessful "through rapping or basketball or being a reality TV star." How sad that the President thinks we have fallen so far that those are the kind of goals kids look to - being entertainers. Kids don't want to be doctors or lawyers or police officers or teachers (they must be encouraged by the president to pursue those goals), they want to be entertainers. Hmm, either the President is out of touch with the majority of kids in our country who actually want to have careers out of the entertainment industry or he is telling kids they should want to be entertainers or at least pay attention to them because "not everyone can be successful" at such careers. I am rather out of touch with the tv watching majority, so maybe kids are that bad, but by acknowledging entertainment as a valid career option in the same speech in which he is calling for new leaders and inventors is insulting. Maybe I am reading too much into it, but it was just...yuck!
Don't even get me started on him asking God to bless America, although from his point of view I'm sure it was more like Sincerely at the bottom of a letter. Though I don't think that makes things better.
Yeah, there are no hidden messages here, it is just flowers and rainbows and holding hands.
One more little thing, isn't it interesting that he feels it necessary to let kids know chances are they will not be sucessful "through rapping or basketball or being a reality TV star." How sad that the President thinks we have fallen so far that those are the kind of goals kids look to - being entertainers. Kids don't want to be doctors or lawyers or police officers or teachers (they must be encouraged by the president to pursue those goals), they want to be entertainers. Hmm, either the President is out of touch with the majority of kids in our country who actually want to have careers out of the entertainment industry or he is telling kids they should want to be entertainers or at least pay attention to them because "not everyone can be successful" at such careers. I am rather out of touch with the tv watching majority, so maybe kids are that bad, but by acknowledging entertainment as a valid career option in the same speech in which he is calling for new leaders and inventors is insulting. Maybe I am reading too much into it, but it was just...yuck!
Don't even get me started on him asking God to bless America, although from his point of view I'm sure it was more like Sincerely at the bottom of a letter. Though I don't think that makes things better.
Yeah, there are no hidden messages here, it is just flowers and rainbows and holding hands.
Friday, August 28, 2009
I Love My Husband
Over the last 2 nights Jeff has engaged me in almost debates. While I love to debate, he has always hated it, so I have learned to take my debating skills elsewhere. The topics were not ones he cares much about, so it wasn't heated debate (except on my end a bit), it was more hilarious to see him arguing the topics. Jeff and I rarely fight anyway, so this wasn't something ominous, more entertaining.
Two nights ago Jeff was talking about the upcoming concert he is going to with a guy from work. It was his favorite band 10 years ago and they are having a reunion tour, so he is really looking forward to it. He made some goofy comment about how I used to be 'cool' and now I am part of the institution instead of fighting against it. He has a very sarcastic sense of humor, so this was not said in a mean way, it was just Jeff. Anyway, I replied that the band, by having a reunion tour undoubtedly to just make money, is actually showing that they are 'part of the problem'. I am about as counter-cultural as you can get. I stay at home with the kids, home school them in a style that shocks most people even more than the school-at-home style, take the kids to a Naturopath instead of a Pediatrician, have babies at home instead of a hospital, set my own immunization schedule and am an Independent politically. He feigned indignation that I would call his band sell-outs, and argued that you must be in the mainstream in order to swim against it. So that means our children cannot be 'cool' and counter-cultural because they are not fighting against 'the system' daily like the 'cool' kids are. I commented that there is always the risk that if you have kids in the 'mainstream' that they will like it and not retaliate, but Jeffrey said he has more confidence in the kids than that. It was very funny, and you know, I can live with being called 'part of the system' if it means I can keep doing things the way I am.
Then last night we were discussing whether we should fix his car or not (in addition to the front end damage, the alternator has now gone out), and I went online to check alternator prices at a few stores and the main page Explorer opened to had the headline "Madonna Jeered and Booed at Concert." Jeff asked why she was booed so I clicked the link and read the article about a concert in Romania where Madonna commented to the attendees something along the lines of "discrimination is bad, and the way the Romies and Gypsies have been treated here is wrong." This got her a lot of boos and jeers, so she went on to say something about Romanians that was less offensive which got her cheers, then she followed up with something like, "homosexuals are also discriminated against and that is bad." She was then booed and jeered more. A couple concert attendees commented afterward that Madonna had no business saying what she did and that she has no idea how people live in Romania (a really good point I think). Jeff threw out that people shouldn't criticize Madonna because she makes more money in a single night than they make in a month (they being everyone at the concert). I laughed and we went back and forth a little on it mostly tongue-in-cheek - it was definitely entertaining (though I got a bit upset in the beginning before I realized he was goofing off).
These were just two small scraps of conversation over two evenings, but it definitely lightened the mood. I love it when he reminds me to not take things too seriously, which I have a tendency to do.
Two nights ago Jeff was talking about the upcoming concert he is going to with a guy from work. It was his favorite band 10 years ago and they are having a reunion tour, so he is really looking forward to it. He made some goofy comment about how I used to be 'cool' and now I am part of the institution instead of fighting against it. He has a very sarcastic sense of humor, so this was not said in a mean way, it was just Jeff. Anyway, I replied that the band, by having a reunion tour undoubtedly to just make money, is actually showing that they are 'part of the problem'. I am about as counter-cultural as you can get. I stay at home with the kids, home school them in a style that shocks most people even more than the school-at-home style, take the kids to a Naturopath instead of a Pediatrician, have babies at home instead of a hospital, set my own immunization schedule and am an Independent politically. He feigned indignation that I would call his band sell-outs, and argued that you must be in the mainstream in order to swim against it. So that means our children cannot be 'cool' and counter-cultural because they are not fighting against 'the system' daily like the 'cool' kids are. I commented that there is always the risk that if you have kids in the 'mainstream' that they will like it and not retaliate, but Jeffrey said he has more confidence in the kids than that. It was very funny, and you know, I can live with being called 'part of the system' if it means I can keep doing things the way I am.
Then last night we were discussing whether we should fix his car or not (in addition to the front end damage, the alternator has now gone out), and I went online to check alternator prices at a few stores and the main page Explorer opened to had the headline "Madonna Jeered and Booed at Concert." Jeff asked why she was booed so I clicked the link and read the article about a concert in Romania where Madonna commented to the attendees something along the lines of "discrimination is bad, and the way the Romies and Gypsies have been treated here is wrong." This got her a lot of boos and jeers, so she went on to say something about Romanians that was less offensive which got her cheers, then she followed up with something like, "homosexuals are also discriminated against and that is bad." She was then booed and jeered more. A couple concert attendees commented afterward that Madonna had no business saying what she did and that she has no idea how people live in Romania (a really good point I think). Jeff threw out that people shouldn't criticize Madonna because she makes more money in a single night than they make in a month (they being everyone at the concert). I laughed and we went back and forth a little on it mostly tongue-in-cheek - it was definitely entertaining (though I got a bit upset in the beginning before I realized he was goofing off).
These were just two small scraps of conversation over two evenings, but it definitely lightened the mood. I love it when he reminds me to not take things too seriously, which I have a tendency to do.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
An Interesting Read
No Logo: Taking Aim at the Brand Bullies by Naomi Klein was at times enlightening, frustrating and memory stirring. The book examines the changes in marketing and employment between the 70s and late 90s in big multinational companies of the Western world. It was published in late 1999, so much of the information is outdated, however, it is laid out well enough that I can see in some ways why society is the way it is today. The book is divided into 4 sections:
No Space, No Choice, No Jobs and No Logo that lay out where branding came from, where it has taken us and where we are going as Western society (Western Europe and Canada are included in much of the discussion, but the focus is on the USA).
No Space: Starting with a brief history of advertising in the early 1900s through the late 1990s, it is possible to see why there are very few spaces left today where companies do not display their logos. People even walk around advertising for companies and they have paid for the privilege to wear the logo. With corporate sponsorship that requires recognition with a logo, most community events and even places like parks are now 'marked' territory.
I don't know enough of my own history to really have an opinion on this. It seems to me that as long as there have been cities, there have been advertisements. Sure, the ads have changed over time, and with the invention of the television those ads are pumped into people's homes with much more intensity than they have been in the past, but when you have people who are dependent on others purchasing their goods (businessmen), you will have advertising of one sort or another. Whether it is the young orphan paid to stand on the street and call in customers that you can hear from your small apartment, or signs pasted on brick walls, ads have been around a long time. The guilds in the Middle Ages even had rules that reflected multiple producers of goods who had to advertise to compete with each other. I am willing to go so far as to say the targeting of children on TV, in schools and in community events has changed things by taking a particularly susceptible group and convincing them that materialism is a good thing and that they must "buy, buy, buy" to be happy. Ms Klein does not point this out specifically, but, as usual, I came to a different conclusion than was intended.
No Choice: here is where the book got a bit meatier. The business plan for companies like Wal-Mart, Starbucks, Borders, etc is laid out. The way these companies compete is by going into an area with the goal of "saturation" - running their competitors out of business so they are the only option. Another part of "saturation" is "synergy" where the big companies merge to become a super-company that then has even more control.
However I look at it, I can't help but think of the old Trusts from back in Theodore Roosevelt's day. My public school education left me a bit spotty on the specifics of the old Trusts (maybe it is time to work on US history with the kids this year :) ), but I believe the issue was large companies owning so much that small businesses could not compete. Not knowing all that much about economics beyond the basics, it is hard to have a well-reasoned opinion. I agree with Ms. Klein (Morgan Spurlock of Supersize Me fame brought it up too) that it is sad to see shopping centers with the same stores that all look the same in every major city across the country. The unique culture that used to exist in the different regions across the US, has become a homogenization of identical temples to the various gods of shopping. I am guilty of going to Starbuck's and enjoying it, but I don't think it is because of the brand posted outside the store. If there were other coffee shops that met the need Starbuck's meets I would probably shop there. However, there is something nice about knowing what to expect when going to one of the big box stores like Wal-mart, so I guess I am a bit of a hypocrite. I suppose ultimately the issue is not with a popular store becoming international or even pushing it's competitors out of business, but more with the way they do it as well as the danger of large companies merging until they are so powerful that they control our lives in an Orwellian way (working through the government as they become powerful enough). I agree with Theodore Roosevelt's statement that the government should be more powerful than any company or trust, but there has to be a balance. I don't want a government more powerful than the companies as they are now, so I guess "busting up the trusts" is the only option at this point. I am not firmly attached to this point of view, but it makes sense in my uneducated opinion.
No Jobs: here the focus moves seamlessly from the business plan of large companies to the way they run competitors out of business - lower prices. The mega-chains are able to have such low prices by buying in bulk at a discount, outsourcing manufacturing to the lowest bidder and by paying their employees as little as they can get away with.
Here was where I was hooked on this book. I don't agree with everything she had to say, and some of the studies seemed skewed to me; for example in one study the self-employed were combined with unemployed, temp and part time workers to show how 'few' people have full-time work (Maybe it was growing up in a self-employed family, but it just doesn't seem right to imply that you don't have a "full-time" job if you are self-employed. I have seen how much harder you have to work and how much more you work when you are self employed. The study should have separated self-employed from part time + temporary workers.) However, overall I was very interested in the information conveyed in this part of the book. Manufacturing esp of clothing has always been a job for the poor who will work for little. Going back as far as industrialism has been around that has been the case. It doesn't make it right, but that is part of the industrial beast. For a brief period unions made it so that workers had decent wages, work hours, benefits and job security, but the companies found ways to work around that limitation by outsourcing. Whether outsourcing is a reasonable step to take or not, I found it fascinating that the USA as of 1997 had 30 million people in the workforce in manufacturing with almost another 25 million in retail. I have heard predictions as high as 75% of jobs being in retail within the next 25 years (though I believe the retail trend will turn long before reaching that point). Yet retail is considered a sector of young people and part time employees who are just "moving through" and are therefore paid minimum wage. It is almost fitting that the more people buy, the less money they have to spend on things (hence shopping for the lowest price) and the less they earn. I do come from the point of view that materialism is bad and that our Western society worships shopping (the things can be discarded or are easily forgotten or traded in for something new, but the shopping is 'fun', 'fulfilling', 'quality family-time', etc). My solution to the issue is to shop as little as possible and to rely on 2nd hand things as well as swaps (curriculum, clothing, etc) to avoid the temples.
No Logo: Ms Klein wraps up her 446 page book with her predictions for the future. She praised groups like Critical Mass and Reclaim the Streets as well as those who deface billboards as "taking back..the streets". Interestingly enough she comments that government or international laws and control over wage and safety issues are not the way to go, for which I applaud her. I agree with her that part of the solution is for workers to organize and create their own union-like groups that will ensure decent work conditions and wages - whether they are in the Western world or a Third World country, people have to stand up for themselves in order for it to last. Another big thing she promotes is boycotting, and while I believe it has been effective in the past and may even be effective in certain circumstances today, by the time you cut out all the companies with offensive habits or ethics, there isn't much left. While my summary is only a portion of what was talked about in the book, this quote wraps up the book neatly:
"By attempting to enclose our shared culture in sanitized and controlled brand cocoons, these corporations have themselves created the surge of opposition described in this book. By thirstily absorbing social critiques and political movements as sources of brand "meaning," they have radicalized that opposition still further. By abandoning their traditional role as direct, secure employers to pursue their branding dreams, they have lost the loyalty that once protected them from citizen rage. And by pounding the message of self-sufficiency into a generation of workers, they have inadvertently empowered their critics to express that rage without fear."
I have to say assuming No Logo is correct, the losses experienced in the job market combined with the growing division between rich and poor (as well as the "synergy" tendency to swap CEOs instead of offering employees upward mobility) has led in many ways to where we are today with a Socialist president who is trying to change America into a Socialist country as fast as he can. Before all the glamour that dazzled a majority of Americans to vote Socialist (in all fairness many of them didn't realize they were voting Socialist because the ticket said Democrat), people were worried about their jobs and their homes and assumed it was the mega-companies (and by extension 'their' party, the Republicans) who were "The Man" trying to keep them down. What they are starting to realize now is that those mega-companies have had a hold on the entire government for a long time and that Democrat or Republican doesn't make a difference and that Socialism is slapping "The Man" down with the government taking-over as much as it can which is making things even harder for the everyday citizen (thanks to skyrocketing unemployment and inflation). I can only hope that people will collectively wake up and that things will get better before there is no country left to defend.
Since I like to read a variety of books on seemingly unrelated topics, I can put the pieces together that Ms Klein skipped over because she chose to focus on one topic. There is no one cause of all our woes (though it would be so easy if there was!). The changes in our world through the industrial revolution that created employers overseeing many employees combined with the changes in our government over the last 100-150 years combined with the flight to the suburbs that led to the dissolution of extended family in favor of the nuclear family combined with No-Fault divorce which led in many ways to mothers in the workforce (which drove wages down even more than illegal immigration) and further eroded the family unit until it has become almost a joke to most people. Add on top of all that an increased dependency upon public education not only as educators, but as babysitters (just watch what happens when teachers go on strike if you have any doubt about the role parents see public education in) which gives educators the control to shape children as they see fit, then add anti-family television programming into the mix for the few hours a day that children and parents happen to be home together and it is no wonder that an entire generation (or 2 depending on how you divide things) has grown up to not care about others. They don't care about their spouses, their children nor their employees. The bottom line is the important thing and they have to take care of themselves first, everyone else is out to tear them down. I know this is a pessimistic over-simplification of what is really going on (and yes, most people do not fit this cookie-cutter description), but I hope that it illustrates the complexity of any societal issue. You cannot blame one thing, no matter how inclusive it feels on all of society's ills.
No Space, No Choice, No Jobs and No Logo that lay out where branding came from, where it has taken us and where we are going as Western society (Western Europe and Canada are included in much of the discussion, but the focus is on the USA).
No Space: Starting with a brief history of advertising in the early 1900s through the late 1990s, it is possible to see why there are very few spaces left today where companies do not display their logos. People even walk around advertising for companies and they have paid for the privilege to wear the logo. With corporate sponsorship that requires recognition with a logo, most community events and even places like parks are now 'marked' territory.
I don't know enough of my own history to really have an opinion on this. It seems to me that as long as there have been cities, there have been advertisements. Sure, the ads have changed over time, and with the invention of the television those ads are pumped into people's homes with much more intensity than they have been in the past, but when you have people who are dependent on others purchasing their goods (businessmen), you will have advertising of one sort or another. Whether it is the young orphan paid to stand on the street and call in customers that you can hear from your small apartment, or signs pasted on brick walls, ads have been around a long time. The guilds in the Middle Ages even had rules that reflected multiple producers of goods who had to advertise to compete with each other. I am willing to go so far as to say the targeting of children on TV, in schools and in community events has changed things by taking a particularly susceptible group and convincing them that materialism is a good thing and that they must "buy, buy, buy" to be happy. Ms Klein does not point this out specifically, but, as usual, I came to a different conclusion than was intended.
No Choice: here is where the book got a bit meatier. The business plan for companies like Wal-Mart, Starbucks, Borders, etc is laid out. The way these companies compete is by going into an area with the goal of "saturation" - running their competitors out of business so they are the only option. Another part of "saturation" is "synergy" where the big companies merge to become a super-company that then has even more control.
However I look at it, I can't help but think of the old Trusts from back in Theodore Roosevelt's day. My public school education left me a bit spotty on the specifics of the old Trusts (maybe it is time to work on US history with the kids this year :) ), but I believe the issue was large companies owning so much that small businesses could not compete. Not knowing all that much about economics beyond the basics, it is hard to have a well-reasoned opinion. I agree with Ms. Klein (Morgan Spurlock of Supersize Me fame brought it up too) that it is sad to see shopping centers with the same stores that all look the same in every major city across the country. The unique culture that used to exist in the different regions across the US, has become a homogenization of identical temples to the various gods of shopping. I am guilty of going to Starbuck's and enjoying it, but I don't think it is because of the brand posted outside the store. If there were other coffee shops that met the need Starbuck's meets I would probably shop there. However, there is something nice about knowing what to expect when going to one of the big box stores like Wal-mart, so I guess I am a bit of a hypocrite. I suppose ultimately the issue is not with a popular store becoming international or even pushing it's competitors out of business, but more with the way they do it as well as the danger of large companies merging until they are so powerful that they control our lives in an Orwellian way (working through the government as they become powerful enough). I agree with Theodore Roosevelt's statement that the government should be more powerful than any company or trust, but there has to be a balance. I don't want a government more powerful than the companies as they are now, so I guess "busting up the trusts" is the only option at this point. I am not firmly attached to this point of view, but it makes sense in my uneducated opinion.
No Jobs: here the focus moves seamlessly from the business plan of large companies to the way they run competitors out of business - lower prices. The mega-chains are able to have such low prices by buying in bulk at a discount, outsourcing manufacturing to the lowest bidder and by paying their employees as little as they can get away with.
Here was where I was hooked on this book. I don't agree with everything she had to say, and some of the studies seemed skewed to me; for example in one study the self-employed were combined with unemployed, temp and part time workers to show how 'few' people have full-time work (Maybe it was growing up in a self-employed family, but it just doesn't seem right to imply that you don't have a "full-time" job if you are self-employed. I have seen how much harder you have to work and how much more you work when you are self employed. The study should have separated self-employed from part time + temporary workers.) However, overall I was very interested in the information conveyed in this part of the book. Manufacturing esp of clothing has always been a job for the poor who will work for little. Going back as far as industrialism has been around that has been the case. It doesn't make it right, but that is part of the industrial beast. For a brief period unions made it so that workers had decent wages, work hours, benefits and job security, but the companies found ways to work around that limitation by outsourcing. Whether outsourcing is a reasonable step to take or not, I found it fascinating that the USA as of 1997 had 30 million people in the workforce in manufacturing with almost another 25 million in retail. I have heard predictions as high as 75% of jobs being in retail within the next 25 years (though I believe the retail trend will turn long before reaching that point). Yet retail is considered a sector of young people and part time employees who are just "moving through" and are therefore paid minimum wage. It is almost fitting that the more people buy, the less money they have to spend on things (hence shopping for the lowest price) and the less they earn. I do come from the point of view that materialism is bad and that our Western society worships shopping (the things can be discarded or are easily forgotten or traded in for something new, but the shopping is 'fun', 'fulfilling', 'quality family-time', etc). My solution to the issue is to shop as little as possible and to rely on 2nd hand things as well as swaps (curriculum, clothing, etc) to avoid the temples.
No Logo: Ms Klein wraps up her 446 page book with her predictions for the future. She praised groups like Critical Mass and Reclaim the Streets as well as those who deface billboards as "taking back..the streets". Interestingly enough she comments that government or international laws and control over wage and safety issues are not the way to go, for which I applaud her. I agree with her that part of the solution is for workers to organize and create their own union-like groups that will ensure decent work conditions and wages - whether they are in the Western world or a Third World country, people have to stand up for themselves in order for it to last. Another big thing she promotes is boycotting, and while I believe it has been effective in the past and may even be effective in certain circumstances today, by the time you cut out all the companies with offensive habits or ethics, there isn't much left. While my summary is only a portion of what was talked about in the book, this quote wraps up the book neatly:
"By attempting to enclose our shared culture in sanitized and controlled brand cocoons, these corporations have themselves created the surge of opposition described in this book. By thirstily absorbing social critiques and political movements as sources of brand "meaning," they have radicalized that opposition still further. By abandoning their traditional role as direct, secure employers to pursue their branding dreams, they have lost the loyalty that once protected them from citizen rage. And by pounding the message of self-sufficiency into a generation of workers, they have inadvertently empowered their critics to express that rage without fear."
I have to say assuming No Logo is correct, the losses experienced in the job market combined with the growing division between rich and poor (as well as the "synergy" tendency to swap CEOs instead of offering employees upward mobility) has led in many ways to where we are today with a Socialist president who is trying to change America into a Socialist country as fast as he can. Before all the glamour that dazzled a majority of Americans to vote Socialist (in all fairness many of them didn't realize they were voting Socialist because the ticket said Democrat), people were worried about their jobs and their homes and assumed it was the mega-companies (and by extension 'their' party, the Republicans) who were "The Man" trying to keep them down. What they are starting to realize now is that those mega-companies have had a hold on the entire government for a long time and that Democrat or Republican doesn't make a difference and that Socialism is slapping "The Man" down with the government taking-over as much as it can which is making things even harder for the everyday citizen (thanks to skyrocketing unemployment and inflation). I can only hope that people will collectively wake up and that things will get better before there is no country left to defend.
Since I like to read a variety of books on seemingly unrelated topics, I can put the pieces together that Ms Klein skipped over because she chose to focus on one topic. There is no one cause of all our woes (though it would be so easy if there was!). The changes in our world through the industrial revolution that created employers overseeing many employees combined with the changes in our government over the last 100-150 years combined with the flight to the suburbs that led to the dissolution of extended family in favor of the nuclear family combined with No-Fault divorce which led in many ways to mothers in the workforce (which drove wages down even more than illegal immigration) and further eroded the family unit until it has become almost a joke to most people. Add on top of all that an increased dependency upon public education not only as educators, but as babysitters (just watch what happens when teachers go on strike if you have any doubt about the role parents see public education in) which gives educators the control to shape children as they see fit, then add anti-family television programming into the mix for the few hours a day that children and parents happen to be home together and it is no wonder that an entire generation (or 2 depending on how you divide things) has grown up to not care about others. They don't care about their spouses, their children nor their employees. The bottom line is the important thing and they have to take care of themselves first, everyone else is out to tear them down. I know this is a pessimistic over-simplification of what is really going on (and yes, most people do not fit this cookie-cutter description), but I hope that it illustrates the complexity of any societal issue. You cannot blame one thing, no matter how inclusive it feels on all of society's ills.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
No Logo
What I have read of No Logo so far was very interesting. The book is about the changes that have taken place first in advertising then in jobs from the 70s until about 2000 (when the book was written). A lot has changed since the book was published, but I think the author set things up well enough that where we are today makes sense from the history she portrays. She is a bit long winded and it seems that this was her first (maybe only?) book. I disagree with her politics (Ralph Nader is always shown in a positive light), but I can appreciate her skepticism of the traditional Republican vs Democrat views. I have not finished the book, and am looking forward to what she has to say in her final section, but I fear it is becoming very political in a way I cannot agree with. For example, she has been very hard on Republicans, but never mentions names when she is pointing out something negative a Democrat did (I know history well enough to know it was a Democrat who passed the legislation or supported the bill). Also, at this point she is very supportive of groups like Critical Mass, the groups that deface billboards and other advertising and other disruptive and destructive groups. I hope to see her conclusion turn to more constructive methods of dissenting the idea of "branding", but I am not holding my breath.
More on it later.
More on it later.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
I am not trying to equate praying to blogging, but this reminds me why I have so many started posts and so few finished ones. Once I get distracted I have a hard time picking up where I left off - that is part of the reason Motherhood was not in my 'plan' back when I thought I would have control over my life.
Interruptions and Intentions
"Try interrupting the meditations of someone who is very attached to her spiritual exercises and you will see her upset, flustered, taken aback. A person who has true freedom will leave her prayer, unruffled, gracious toward the person who has unexpectedly disturbed her, for to here it's all the same - serving God by meditating or serving Him by responding to her neighbor. Both are the will of God, but helping the neighbor is necessary at that particular moment."
-St. Francis de Sales
The summer sun is just beginning to seep through the blinds. The baby sleeps soundly beside me. My husband has already left for work. Amazingly, the older girls are still asleep in bed together, all legs and elbows, intertwined in a nest of sheets.
I slip downstairs and make some coffee. I pull out my Bible and my prayer journal and settle myself down at the kitchen table. My heart is still and so is my home. I begin to pray. "Lord, I offer everything..."
I hear a baby whimper softly over the monitor. Then silence. I utter a quick prayer of thanksgiving.
Then I begin again. "Lord..."
"Mommy?"
I jump, startled to find my toddler standing in the living room.
"I hungee," she says.
I hold back my sigh, remembering the words of St. Francis that I'd, only days before, stumbled across in a book about saints.
This is my daily bread: Interrupted prayers, unfinished sentences and essays, cold cups of coffee.
A sigh does slip out, but only softly, gently, and then I smile, opening my arms wide. My child climbs on my lap and nestles close. "I hungee," she repeats.
I leave my prayer journal and Bible behind to make her breakfast. As I fill my child's sippy cup with milk, I ask that God will me fill me up, too, and that he will perfect my intentions, that he will help me make my life a hymn of love to him, and that I will allow the many interruptions I have on any given day to help me to grow in patience and holiness.
Interruptions and Intentions
"Try interrupting the meditations of someone who is very attached to her spiritual exercises and you will see her upset, flustered, taken aback. A person who has true freedom will leave her prayer, unruffled, gracious toward the person who has unexpectedly disturbed her, for to here it's all the same - serving God by meditating or serving Him by responding to her neighbor. Both are the will of God, but helping the neighbor is necessary at that particular moment."
-St. Francis de Sales
The summer sun is just beginning to seep through the blinds. The baby sleeps soundly beside me. My husband has already left for work. Amazingly, the older girls are still asleep in bed together, all legs and elbows, intertwined in a nest of sheets.
I slip downstairs and make some coffee. I pull out my Bible and my prayer journal and settle myself down at the kitchen table. My heart is still and so is my home. I begin to pray. "Lord, I offer everything..."
I hear a baby whimper softly over the monitor. Then silence. I utter a quick prayer of thanksgiving.
Then I begin again. "Lord..."
"Mommy?"
I jump, startled to find my toddler standing in the living room.
"I hungee," she says.
I hold back my sigh, remembering the words of St. Francis that I'd, only days before, stumbled across in a book about saints.
This is my daily bread: Interrupted prayers, unfinished sentences and essays, cold cups of coffee.
A sigh does slip out, but only softly, gently, and then I smile, opening my arms wide. My child climbs on my lap and nestles close. "I hungee," she repeats.
I leave my prayer journal and Bible behind to make her breakfast. As I fill my child's sippy cup with milk, I ask that God will me fill me up, too, and that he will perfect my intentions, that he will help me make my life a hymn of love to him, and that I will allow the many interruptions I have on any given day to help me to grow in patience and holiness.
Monday, August 17, 2009
I realized a few years ago that summer is a different kind of busy than the school-year. It is less organized, but it seems I am pulled in just as many directions if not more. Then we have a mini-crisis like Jeff's car! Last week he was in a fender bender that the insurance decided was not his fault, but because his car is so old we have to decide whether it is worth it to fix it or not. The trunk leaks, the gasket around the windshield is pulling up and leaking, has been bumped twice in hit and runs (once in a parking lot and Jeff didn't even see who it was) that caused some minor body damage, the air conditioner is broken, the radio is broken, it has a small oil leak and the belt squeaks. And that was all before this accident that broke the driver's side headlight and turn signal and bent the hood up a bit - oh and of course, the registration is due today and the car still needs to go to DEQ! I don't know if DEQ will pass it with the damage or not. On the plus side, Jeff's dad (who is in CA) says he will give Jeff his Ford Taurus when the new car comes in (probably Sept). There may be something wrong with it that he will have checked out, but if it really happens it will be great for Jeff to have a newer car! Of course we would have to figure out how to get the car - Charles said he may drive it up for a visit and then fly back, which would be nice we will just have to see.
So that was last week, this week Jeff's Mom is coming for a visit (she gets in Weds) and that will be fun. Thurs we are getting pictures done with her because I have a good coupon and we sorta didn't send anything for Christmas last year so I feel guilty and I want to make it up to her. Plus, when the pictures on the wall are so old that 2 of the children are not even in them, it is time to update. Also during her visit Damien will be training to be an alter server! Yea! He has been looking forward to this for over a year. We are also planning to go to the zoo, maybe Blue Lake park and I hope to see King Henry IV at the free Shakespeare in the park this weekend. I missed the others because I forgot to put them on the calendar, so I really want to make it to this one. We will see.
If I can manage to get up at 6am, then I may even be able to post some of my thoughts on the last few books I read that are very interesting. What Americans Really Believe and The Rise of Christianity are the ones I recently finished and now I am working on a lecture series called the Decline and Fall of Rome and reading No Logo, which is about the changes first in the advertising industry and then in jobs
over the last 50 years. I have all kinds of fascinating thoughts on these books and have had no one to share them with! I only have 3 days left before No Logo has to go back to the library, so I hope I can finish it. Once I am done with No Logo, I have a Steven Hahn book that was loaned to me as well as Ugly as Sin: Why They Changed Our Churches from Sacred Places to Meeting Spaces and How We Can Change Them Back Again. I only get a chance to read when I am putting the baby down for a nap or if I go to bed early, so I guess it is a good thing that I read quickly! I love reading, maybe a bit too much.
Amazingly all the kids are up, but are letting me finish this post! I should get breakfast started though as well as dinner. 10 hours is long enough for crockpit BBQ ribs, right?
So that was last week, this week Jeff's Mom is coming for a visit (she gets in Weds) and that will be fun. Thurs we are getting pictures done with her because I have a good coupon and we sorta didn't send anything for Christmas last year so I feel guilty and I want to make it up to her. Plus, when the pictures on the wall are so old that 2 of the children are not even in them, it is time to update. Also during her visit Damien will be training to be an alter server! Yea! He has been looking forward to this for over a year. We are also planning to go to the zoo, maybe Blue Lake park and I hope to see King Henry IV at the free Shakespeare in the park this weekend. I missed the others because I forgot to put them on the calendar, so I really want to make it to this one. We will see.
If I can manage to get up at 6am, then I may even be able to post some of my thoughts on the last few books I read that are very interesting. What Americans Really Believe and The Rise of Christianity are the ones I recently finished and now I am working on a lecture series called the Decline and Fall of Rome and reading No Logo, which is about the changes first in the advertising industry and then in jobs
over the last 50 years. I have all kinds of fascinating thoughts on these books and have had no one to share them with! I only have 3 days left before No Logo has to go back to the library, so I hope I can finish it. Once I am done with No Logo, I have a Steven Hahn book that was loaned to me as well as Ugly as Sin: Why They Changed Our Churches from Sacred Places to Meeting Spaces and How We Can Change Them Back Again. I only get a chance to read when I am putting the baby down for a nap or if I go to bed early, so I guess it is a good thing that I read quickly! I love reading, maybe a bit too much.
Amazingly all the kids are up, but are letting me finish this post! I should get breakfast started though as well as dinner. 10 hours is long enough for crockpit BBQ ribs, right?
Friday, June 26, 2009
A Resolution
As I said in my very first post, I am a bit of a wimp. I am so scared of saying (or typing) the wrong thing that I sit on the sidelines, not taking a chance and waiting for the 'right' moment to step in. For example, with this blog I have 4 posts I am working on that I am not ready to post because every time I get into writing, I find some fact that I have to research to make sure I am being fair and accurate. Then, of course, I have to revise what I am claiming and by then I am out of time.
I am also afraid to let family and friends know this blog exists. I haven't even been posting any real thoughts that someone may take offense to, but still I say and type pretty much nothing. I am equally as timid in social situations as I am with this blog, so at least I am consistent. I can go into all kinds of reasons why I am this way, and a big part of it is my public school education (being ridiculed for saying or doing the wrong thing shuts you up pretty quickly especially when you are younger than almost everyone else) as well as my preference for observing and gauging situations before jumping into them. The short period in my life where I was spontaneous and took risks did not work out very well, so I have good life experience that tells me to sit back and watch life without sticking my nose in.
Lately I have been listening to KBVM (the local Catholic radio station) a lot as well as reading some interesting books related to the Faith. The message I am getting is to get off the sidelines! I have to take a chance and stretch the part of me that doesn't want to risk hurting feelings or offending anyone. One of the books I am reading is a collection of Orestes Brownson's writings, well summaries of his writings anyway. He was a well educated American who became Catholic later in life after being a Universalist Preacher, and for years published the Brownson Quarterly Review. His Review spanned the years leading up to his conversion and right through it and went on close to his death. Throughout the years he was writing, he explored many topics and in many ways discovered or confirmed his opinions through his writing. He was not afraid to take a chance and while many critics claim that if he had only done x,y,z he would have converted more souls instead of turning people away, I have to admire that he said anything. He really took a chance and that is what counts.
I've observed that many people have great ideas, fantastic ideas even, but they lack the time, energy, guts, incentive, etc to take a chance and make their idea work (myself included!). Since several of my children are planning to be entrepreneurs, I have been trying to teach them that the only differences between the people who are successful and those who are not is taking a chance and persevering. So, while this is only the first tiny baby step, I am making a resolution to start posting my thoughts whether they are researched or not. I will not be too scared to step out into the unknown and take a chance. I don't know what I will find, but I trust God that he will guide me where I should go.
I am also afraid to let family and friends know this blog exists. I haven't even been posting any real thoughts that someone may take offense to, but still I say and type pretty much nothing. I am equally as timid in social situations as I am with this blog, so at least I am consistent. I can go into all kinds of reasons why I am this way, and a big part of it is my public school education (being ridiculed for saying or doing the wrong thing shuts you up pretty quickly especially when you are younger than almost everyone else) as well as my preference for observing and gauging situations before jumping into them. The short period in my life where I was spontaneous and took risks did not work out very well, so I have good life experience that tells me to sit back and watch life without sticking my nose in.
Lately I have been listening to KBVM (the local Catholic radio station) a lot as well as reading some interesting books related to the Faith. The message I am getting is to get off the sidelines! I have to take a chance and stretch the part of me that doesn't want to risk hurting feelings or offending anyone. One of the books I am reading is a collection of Orestes Brownson's writings, well summaries of his writings anyway. He was a well educated American who became Catholic later in life after being a Universalist Preacher, and for years published the Brownson Quarterly Review. His Review spanned the years leading up to his conversion and right through it and went on close to his death. Throughout the years he was writing, he explored many topics and in many ways discovered or confirmed his opinions through his writing. He was not afraid to take a chance and while many critics claim that if he had only done x,y,z he would have converted more souls instead of turning people away, I have to admire that he said anything. He really took a chance and that is what counts.
I've observed that many people have great ideas, fantastic ideas even, but they lack the time, energy, guts, incentive, etc to take a chance and make their idea work (myself included!). Since several of my children are planning to be entrepreneurs, I have been trying to teach them that the only differences between the people who are successful and those who are not is taking a chance and persevering. So, while this is only the first tiny baby step, I am making a resolution to start posting my thoughts whether they are researched or not. I will not be too scared to step out into the unknown and take a chance. I don't know what I will find, but I trust God that he will guide me where I should go.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
I May Be Going Crazy...
Jeff just started the next term in school and the kids have a soccer camp this week, so the days and evenings have been full. Since Jeff is working and then going to school I am on my own to get the kids ready for bed and preferably in bed before he gets home from school (this term he is in class 3 days a week). Since they are getting up early and running for a couple hours before coming home to do chores, they are actually going to sleep at a reasonable hour. Well, reasonable for us. I've been getting the kids up at 8am and they are going to bed around 9:30 and seem to be asleep by 10:30. Normally, Damien is still up at midnight, so asleep by 10:30 is amazing.
Anyway, on to why I question my sanity. I managed to get everyone to bed later than I wanted last night, so I think it was about 10:30 when I got the little girls and myself (accidentally) to sleep while the other kids were listening to audio books in the dark. Jeff was still up and doing homework until 1:30am (his Math teacher is young and seems to think that people take night classes because they have their days free for 2-3 hours of homework 3 days a week). Once he finished his Math, he had to do his online intro and homework for his Biology class, hence being up so late. I woke up at about 3:45am sneezing and then lay in bed trying to go back to sleep. I'm sure it is related to my experiences when I was younger, but when I wake up in the night I always question whether there is a reason why I am awake. So, I lay there listening for odd sounds. My house was built in 1958 and has harwood floors, so it creaks and groans a lot. We have kind of a white noise that stays on at night to mask most of the noises and to keep the little girls asleep when Jeff and I move around in the morning. Anyway, I heard something that didn't sound quite right, so knowing that Jeff was up late I decided to check it out myself. The kids were fine and all of them were asleep, but something just didn't feel right. I decided to stand in the boys room for a few minutes in the dark while I thought about what to do, then I heard a very distictive creak that only happens when someone is moving on the floor. At that point I was pretty terrified, so I picked up the boys radio (the best weapon I could find) and demanded in a loud and what I hoped was an authoritative voice "Get the hell out of my house!" That woke Jeff up who managed to find his glasses and come out turning on lights in about 20 seconds - pretty impressive for 2 hours sleep! The only thing is, there was no one there. We checked everything and the kind of locks on the doors (other than the front door which has a deadbolt) have to be locked from the inside. We both noticed an unfamiliar smell in the area where I thought I heard the noise from, but Jeff thought it was still there an hour and a half later when he got up for work. It was gone by 5:45 when I got up though. I think I just don't know my house as well as I thought I did. After Jeff and I checked everywhere (in cupboards, under the table, in closets, etc) and went back to bed, he went back out to turn on a couple lights just in case and I noticed that about 60-90 seconds after you step on a particularly creaky part of the hallway it creaks again. Even with that logical explaination I still found myself jerking awake with every little noise for probably an hour after we went back to bed.
Periodically I find myself wishing we had a decent weapon in the house for protection, but I suspect the mass media brainwashing is well entrenched because I never follow through. The fact that I had bad experiences in the night time as a child, studied Forensic Criminal Science as a credited course (the quote that sticks with me most is "everytime I think I have seen the worst thing that one human being can do to another, the next case comes in" - and the case studies were horrific) and am prone to nightmares makes me more likely to be on edge at night. It doesn't help that 2 weeks ago we had someone come into our back yard and steal a toddler carrier that hooks on your bike (the next day we had a lock on the gate) and then yesterday while the kids were at their soccer camp a store on the other side of the field was robbed. One of the robbers fired a shotgun at employees who were chasing them, but fortunately no one was hurt (though at least one guy got away). It certainly was exciting to see all the police at the other end of the field and to have other cops by us to make sure people didn't leave the way the investigation was happening. All that excitement coupled with being stressed may be making me more paranoid, or maybe my sanity is already too far gone. Oh well, Ariana will not be staying home alone for a while, at least until my nerves settle.
Anyway, on to why I question my sanity. I managed to get everyone to bed later than I wanted last night, so I think it was about 10:30 when I got the little girls and myself (accidentally) to sleep while the other kids were listening to audio books in the dark. Jeff was still up and doing homework until 1:30am (his Math teacher is young and seems to think that people take night classes because they have their days free for 2-3 hours of homework 3 days a week). Once he finished his Math, he had to do his online intro and homework for his Biology class, hence being up so late. I woke up at about 3:45am sneezing and then lay in bed trying to go back to sleep. I'm sure it is related to my experiences when I was younger, but when I wake up in the night I always question whether there is a reason why I am awake. So, I lay there listening for odd sounds. My house was built in 1958 and has harwood floors, so it creaks and groans a lot. We have kind of a white noise that stays on at night to mask most of the noises and to keep the little girls asleep when Jeff and I move around in the morning. Anyway, I heard something that didn't sound quite right, so knowing that Jeff was up late I decided to check it out myself. The kids were fine and all of them were asleep, but something just didn't feel right. I decided to stand in the boys room for a few minutes in the dark while I thought about what to do, then I heard a very distictive creak that only happens when someone is moving on the floor. At that point I was pretty terrified, so I picked up the boys radio (the best weapon I could find) and demanded in a loud and what I hoped was an authoritative voice "Get the hell out of my house!" That woke Jeff up who managed to find his glasses and come out turning on lights in about 20 seconds - pretty impressive for 2 hours sleep! The only thing is, there was no one there. We checked everything and the kind of locks on the doors (other than the front door which has a deadbolt) have to be locked from the inside. We both noticed an unfamiliar smell in the area where I thought I heard the noise from, but Jeff thought it was still there an hour and a half later when he got up for work. It was gone by 5:45 when I got up though. I think I just don't know my house as well as I thought I did. After Jeff and I checked everywhere (in cupboards, under the table, in closets, etc) and went back to bed, he went back out to turn on a couple lights just in case and I noticed that about 60-90 seconds after you step on a particularly creaky part of the hallway it creaks again. Even with that logical explaination I still found myself jerking awake with every little noise for probably an hour after we went back to bed.
Periodically I find myself wishing we had a decent weapon in the house for protection, but I suspect the mass media brainwashing is well entrenched because I never follow through. The fact that I had bad experiences in the night time as a child, studied Forensic Criminal Science as a credited course (the quote that sticks with me most is "everytime I think I have seen the worst thing that one human being can do to another, the next case comes in" - and the case studies were horrific) and am prone to nightmares makes me more likely to be on edge at night. It doesn't help that 2 weeks ago we had someone come into our back yard and steal a toddler carrier that hooks on your bike (the next day we had a lock on the gate) and then yesterday while the kids were at their soccer camp a store on the other side of the field was robbed. One of the robbers fired a shotgun at employees who were chasing them, but fortunately no one was hurt (though at least one guy got away). It certainly was exciting to see all the police at the other end of the field and to have other cops by us to make sure people didn't leave the way the investigation was happening. All that excitement coupled with being stressed may be making me more paranoid, or maybe my sanity is already too far gone. Oh well, Ariana will not be staying home alone for a while, at least until my nerves settle.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Thank You for our Messy Home
This isn't the version I really like, but I needed the reminder today...
Dear Lord,
Thank you for this sink of dirty dishes; we have plenty of food to eat.
Thank you for this pile of dirty, stinky laundry; we have plenty of nice clothes to wear.
And I would like to thank you, Lord, for those unmade beds; they were so warm and comfortable last night. I know that many have no bed.
My thanks to you, Lord, for this bathroom, complete with all the splattered mess, soggy, grimy towels and the dirty lavatory; they are all so convenient.
Thank you for this finger-smudged refrigerator that needs defrosting so badly; it has served us faithfully for many years. It is full of cold drinks and enough leftovers for two or three meals.
Thank you, Lord, for this oven that absolutely must be cleaned today; it has baked so many things over the years.
The whole family is grateful for that tall grass that needs mowing and lawn that needs raking; we all enjoy the yard.
Thank you, Lord, even for that slamming screen door. My kids are healthy and able to run and play. Many children cannot.
Lord, the presence of all these chores awaiting me says You have richly blessed my family. I shall do them cheerfully and I shall do them gratefully.
Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings... Thank you, Lord, that I can hear. There are many who are deaf.
Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long as possible...Thank you, Lord, that I can see. Many are blind.
Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising...Thank you, Lord, that I have the strength to rise. There are many who are bedridden.
Even though the first hour of my day is hectic with socks that are lost, toast that is burned, tempers that are short, and my children that are so loud...Thank you, Lord, for my family. There are many who are lonely.
Even though our breakfast table never looks like the pictures in magazines and the menu is at times not balanced...Thank you, Lord, for the food we have. There are many who are hungry.
Even though the routine of my job is often monotonous...Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to work. There are many who are jobless.
Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day and wish my circumstances were not so modest...Thank you, Lord, for life.
Author Unknown
Dear Lord,
Thank you for this sink of dirty dishes; we have plenty of food to eat.
Thank you for this pile of dirty, stinky laundry; we have plenty of nice clothes to wear.
And I would like to thank you, Lord, for those unmade beds; they were so warm and comfortable last night. I know that many have no bed.
My thanks to you, Lord, for this bathroom, complete with all the splattered mess, soggy, grimy towels and the dirty lavatory; they are all so convenient.
Thank you for this finger-smudged refrigerator that needs defrosting so badly; it has served us faithfully for many years. It is full of cold drinks and enough leftovers for two or three meals.
Thank you, Lord, for this oven that absolutely must be cleaned today; it has baked so many things over the years.
The whole family is grateful for that tall grass that needs mowing and lawn that needs raking; we all enjoy the yard.
Thank you, Lord, even for that slamming screen door. My kids are healthy and able to run and play. Many children cannot.
Lord, the presence of all these chores awaiting me says You have richly blessed my family. I shall do them cheerfully and I shall do them gratefully.
Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings... Thank you, Lord, that I can hear. There are many who are deaf.
Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long as possible...Thank you, Lord, that I can see. Many are blind.
Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising...Thank you, Lord, that I have the strength to rise. There are many who are bedridden.
Even though the first hour of my day is hectic with socks that are lost, toast that is burned, tempers that are short, and my children that are so loud...Thank you, Lord, for my family. There are many who are lonely.
Even though our breakfast table never looks like the pictures in magazines and the menu is at times not balanced...Thank you, Lord, for the food we have. There are many who are hungry.
Even though the routine of my job is often monotonous...Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to work. There are many who are jobless.
Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day and wish my circumstances were not so modest...Thank you, Lord, for life.
Author Unknown
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Catholics Come Home
I am copying this from Simply Catholic. I really liked it the first time I saw it and want to have it in a place I can see it whenever I feel the need. Plus, if I ever manage to work up the guts to invite family to view this blog, it is good info for them to see.
Not to sound too much like copying Simply Catholic, but this video really is why I love being Catholic.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
A Work In Progress
I've been working on the coverings for the different seasons and thus far I have green, purple and now gold and white for the bookcase. I still have to work on the window hangings and table runners, but I am making progress. Since there is only one working computer with a slot for my camera memory card (Jeff's homework computer), I don't have pictures of the white and gold yet, but here is the purple one.
I hope to add crafts for each season. Obviously Lent is the crowns of thorns, and I am sure there are ones for each season as well as feast days that I can work on with the kids. At the end of this month I will also have a 6" statue of St Joseph holding the child Jesus and a few nice pictures for the wall to choose from to add to our little religious area. It is shaping up nicely!
A Natural Runner
When Damien was 5 we signed him up for a track team that advertised on one of the local homeschool groups, and it was a great experience for him. Since he was technically too young (he was supposed to be 7) not much was expected of him, but he managed to finish every race he was in over the 1 1/2 years we were a part of the team. Ariana ended up on the team as well because the team practices were so far away she had to come and would have had nothing to do. While being too far away eventually led to the demise of our involvement we learned some valuable lessons. One, Ariana is not a runner and doesn't care for it and Two, Damien is a natural runner and he loves it. Life got in the way after we officially left and I never took the time to get Damien back into track, then last year I decided to give CYO a chance, but the season began a week before my due date with Serenity - not the best time to add new things to the schedule. So Damien had to wait another year.
Over this CYO season, Damien had a lot of fun and definitely improved in running - his javelin throwing skills could use some improvement though (he managed to get shorter distances as the meets went along). He is very excited about next year, so we will have to see how that goes. In the meantime I am toying with the idea of finding a local USAAF team for him to join. If he does it over the summer he will build endurance for sure because it will be cross country season. He really shined as a sprinter, but with practice I think he would be fine in cross country. The biggest obstacle being whether I can or even want to fit in 2-3 practices a week and meets every Sat.
After the Championships he was quite proud of himself for placing 4th in the 100M Dash! Daddy was proud too. Damien was sunburned because he refused sunscreen, but all was well in the world.
Over this CYO season, Damien had a lot of fun and definitely improved in running - his javelin throwing skills could use some improvement though (he managed to get shorter distances as the meets went along). He is very excited about next year, so we will have to see how that goes. In the meantime I am toying with the idea of finding a local USAAF team for him to join. If he does it over the summer he will build endurance for sure because it will be cross country season. He really shined as a sprinter, but with practice I think he would be fine in cross country. The biggest obstacle being whether I can or even want to fit in 2-3 practices a week and meets every Sat.
After the Championships he was quite proud of himself for placing 4th in the 100M Dash! Daddy was proud too. Damien was sunburned because he refused sunscreen, but all was well in the world.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Lent in Review
Well, Lent didn't go quite as I had hoped. I didn't get Ariana's room done, I didn't go through the clothes in the basement, I didn't get any more schooling than usual done, or the yard set up and I didn't get any new things together for the 40 trash bags (though adding the garbage in the truck I did get to 40 bags).
We did manage to listen to Mass on KBVM often enough that it seems odd to skip it (so we've continued listening as often as possible), which is a step in the right direction. And, while I didn't get Ariana's room done, a lot of progress was made and I learned some new things about construction.
My "free time" during Lent did enable me to come up with a new idea for celebrating the seasons at home. I have a short bookcase that has become a kind of Religious space with holy pictures and kid's crafts like our crowns of thorns and I had, during Ordinary Time, a green cover under the items. I figured it wouldn't be too hard to make one for every season and have the kids help with putting up whichever we needed, so after Lent began I started searching for something that would work. I discovered flat twin sheets on sale for $3, so I bought a red and purple one. I had white at home, so then I started looking for gold fabric. The twin sheets offered another "problem" in that I would have way more fabric than I needed, so I came up with the idea of making a long piece to hang in the front window, a table runner (to go under a clear plastic cover - something I have wanted to do for years), and possibly pieces to hang on or behind each crucifix throughout the house. We'll have to see how it goes. I'm sure we can manage the purple, white/gold and green, but I'm worried the red and (if I manage to get it) rose, will be more difficult. I did manage to find beautiful gold fabric and with a coupon it wasn't too bad, but it was still $27 to get enough to augment the white. I tend to push penny-pinching to an extreme, so $27 on top of the $6, means that I am committed to this project. I started cutting the purple just before the end of Lent, which wasn't the best decision I've made lately, but I was nervous starting with the more difficult and nicer looking white and gold. I finally got the house clean enough that I should be able to work on sewing today. I have only done real basic sewing before, so this will be a bit of a project. I will post more on it as I make progress.
All my old goals for Lent are now my new goals for Easter! Let's see if I can manage to get them done!
We did manage to listen to Mass on KBVM often enough that it seems odd to skip it (so we've continued listening as often as possible), which is a step in the right direction. And, while I didn't get Ariana's room done, a lot of progress was made and I learned some new things about construction.
My "free time" during Lent did enable me to come up with a new idea for celebrating the seasons at home. I have a short bookcase that has become a kind of Religious space with holy pictures and kid's crafts like our crowns of thorns and I had, during Ordinary Time, a green cover under the items. I figured it wouldn't be too hard to make one for every season and have the kids help with putting up whichever we needed, so after Lent began I started searching for something that would work. I discovered flat twin sheets on sale for $3, so I bought a red and purple one. I had white at home, so then I started looking for gold fabric. The twin sheets offered another "problem" in that I would have way more fabric than I needed, so I came up with the idea of making a long piece to hang in the front window, a table runner (to go under a clear plastic cover - something I have wanted to do for years), and possibly pieces to hang on or behind each crucifix throughout the house. We'll have to see how it goes. I'm sure we can manage the purple, white/gold and green, but I'm worried the red and (if I manage to get it) rose, will be more difficult. I did manage to find beautiful gold fabric and with a coupon it wasn't too bad, but it was still $27 to get enough to augment the white. I tend to push penny-pinching to an extreme, so $27 on top of the $6, means that I am committed to this project. I started cutting the purple just before the end of Lent, which wasn't the best decision I've made lately, but I was nervous starting with the more difficult and nicer looking white and gold. I finally got the house clean enough that I should be able to work on sewing today. I have only done real basic sewing before, so this will be a bit of a project. I will post more on it as I make progress.
All my old goals for Lent are now my new goals for Easter! Let's see if I can manage to get them done!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
40 trash bags for Lent
I have unofficially joined Simply Catholic with the 40 trash bag challenge, and it is going pretty well too. So far I have gotten rid of 16 bags of toys, and that was just the first run through all the toys we had in the basement. I can probably get rid of another 6 or so before the kids start to miss anything. We had way to many toys! I also have about 10 bags worth of junk and garbage that I cleaned out of the basement and garage, but I hope to not count that in the 40 bags. I should be able to come up with the remaining 24 bags just in baby and kids clothes that need to be gotten rid of. The challenge is to finish Ariana's room and go through clothes on top of classes and other routine cleaning and meetings in the next 2 1/2 weeks. I don't know for sure that it can be done, but I will try! Though, I do have other areas I can work on and appliances to get rid of to help get to 40 bags.
The best part of this challenge is how good it feels to get rid of stuff! I have a long way to go, but it is really nice to have open space where there used to be clutter.
If you want to read more about the 40 trash bag challenge below is the link:
http://simplycatholic.net/2009/02/11/40-bags-of-stuff-2/
The best part of this challenge is how good it feels to get rid of stuff! I have a long way to go, but it is really nice to have open space where there used to be clutter.
If you want to read more about the 40 trash bag challenge below is the link:
http://simplycatholic.net/2009/02/11/40-bags-of-stuff-2/
The Grand Basement Plan moves along
We managed to get the room pretty well emptied a few weeks ago.
Then we discovered the dry rot. You can kinda see it in the above picture all along the wall. It was also in the wall with the door, so we decided to remove that wall and rebuild it - we had to resize it anyway because the door being put in was larger than the openning. It was about as easy as I thought it would be to rebuild the partition wall, which is a nice change!
And here it is roughed in. We have the cripple studs cut and 2X4s in place between the joists so that the wall will be supported (before it wasn't even attached to the floor! All that was holding it in place was where it attached to the wall and doorframe). I'm sure that it will not be as well done as if a contractor did it, but it will work well enough for us and it is better than it was. Since this picture was taken, the wall has been attached to the floor and tacked in place and most of the wiring for the room has been set up. I did discover another little hiccup though with the wiring. The door I got from craigslist that was a great price opens the opposite way the original door did, so we have to move the light switch to the other side of the door. An advantage to this is the wiring for the swtich box is loose in the bathroom and by moving it, it will look better and more professional.
Today I hope to get the outlets in and the Romex stapled down.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Happy 1st Birthday Serenity!!!
My sweet little baby is growing so fast! I love you so much Baby Spaceship! Enjoy the sun that seems to have come out especially for your big day.
A Bunny Runs Around the Tree and Other Skills for Unstable Times
I have spent the last couple years studying ways to become more self-reliant, so I found this article very interesting. http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/article/4259/ I hadn't thought about the need to walk where we need to go. I would be in a lot of trouble if we couldn't drive, esp since every friend we have is at least 2 miles away (and many are more like 10+ miles away). I suppose public transit will still be around even if driving becomes too expensive, and we made sure that the house we bought is right off a main bus line (so we can still get to HR for Mass and homeschool get-togethers!). Then there is the whole thing about needing good walking shoes...I just got running shoes for Damien who is in CYO track this year, so he would be good, but the rest of us would be in trouble if we had to use our shoes instead of relying on the car!
I agree 100% with the need to revamp American industries (and home-making skills) necessary for survival such as farming, carpentry, cooking, food preservation, sewing and shoe-making. OK, so technically carpentry and shoe-making are not necessary for survival, but they are critical for sustaining anything close to our standard of living now. These kinds of skills are actually more important to me as homeschooling goals than many academic subjects, but I am a little odd in my homeschooling tactics. Something not mentioned in the article, but is just as important as the other skills is homeopathic medicine. It is really neat to be able to successfully relieve and treat things like sore throats, ear infections, bronchitis (mostly for my incredibly stubborn husband who hates going to the dr and waits until I drag him there), burns and sinus infections with things I have around the house and/or can grow (I don't mean ibprofen or acetaminophen either, though I have and use both when needed). A huge *nod* to God's wonderful design of the human body and its amazing ability to heal itself! I have been known to take my avoidance of the dr farther than most people...the last time Vivian fell and split open her ear I would have put the 3 stitches in myself if I had lidocaine to numb her (much better than the $525 ER visit!).
I think my favorite line in the article is when the little girl tells her mom “you are a living GPS!” after mom used a map to find where she needed to go. Yep, I may just be further along in my self-sufficiency goals than I thought.
I agree 100% with the need to revamp American industries (and home-making skills) necessary for survival such as farming, carpentry, cooking, food preservation, sewing and shoe-making. OK, so technically carpentry and shoe-making are not necessary for survival, but they are critical for sustaining anything close to our standard of living now. These kinds of skills are actually more important to me as homeschooling goals than many academic subjects, but I am a little odd in my homeschooling tactics. Something not mentioned in the article, but is just as important as the other skills is homeopathic medicine. It is really neat to be able to successfully relieve and treat things like sore throats, ear infections, bronchitis (mostly for my incredibly stubborn husband who hates going to the dr and waits until I drag him there), burns and sinus infections with things I have around the house and/or can grow (I don't mean ibprofen or acetaminophen either, though I have and use both when needed). A huge *nod* to God's wonderful design of the human body and its amazing ability to heal itself! I have been known to take my avoidance of the dr farther than most people...the last time Vivian fell and split open her ear I would have put the 3 stitches in myself if I had lidocaine to numb her (much better than the $525 ER visit!).
I think my favorite line in the article is when the little girl tells her mom “you are a living GPS!” after mom used a map to find where she needed to go. Yep, I may just be further along in my self-sufficiency goals than I thought.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
The Grand Basement Plan
I have been working on transforming my basement into usable living space, so I figured it would be a fun project to put up here. I already have my parent's room set-up and the laundry area is in much better condition (I'll try to post before/after pics of those soon) thanks to my sister's help over the last few Sunday afternoons. My goal is to get a hang-out room set up for Ariana by Easter. It won't be a bedroom for her to sleep in (since there are no egress windows), but a place for her to put her clothes, have a lot of her art stuff including her paint supplies and easel and her special fragile things that her siblings are so good at breaking - plus a place for her to be away from siblings when her friends visit.
Here is what I am starting with:
This room has been a storage room with holiday decor, sorted baby and kids clothes for growing into, and a collection of things to "go through". Part of my goal is to go through all the bags and bins of clothes and get rid of everything that doesn't fit in the bins I already have. Some of the bins can be seen in the picture above. That way I will have enough clothes for kids to grow into without having so many clothes that I get overwhelmed and end up with none of the clothes getting worn. I have already moved the holiday decor into my parent's room since that room is so large.
The next step for the room is to put in a floor, finish the walls, paint, add outlets and put in a door. Then we get to move Ariana's things down.
I Like His Style
I really like the way Stephen Crowder gets his point across. His post on global warming is pretty good too.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
I'm It
Darcee tagged me, so here I go a-rambling...
1. I like to wander. Many times when I am driving somewhere with no time pressure, I will take a different road just to see where it goes. I used to take special trips - esp out where there are few people - just be out and about before the kids had classes to get me out of the house. The flip-side of this is not being a very good housekeeper because I dislike being home (and all the stuff that comes with the house) so much.
2. The wandering trait runs in my family and usually presents itself first in the form of 2-3 year olds who can amaze Houdini at their ability to get out of secure locations just so that they can wander the neighborhood (so far I have had only 1 child like that, but also a nephew, brother, uncle, grandfather and grandmother who all did the same thing as toddlers).
3. I have strong opinions on a lot of things, but I can be made to change my mind, frequently even, with logical and/or reasonable arguements. The only exception being that I don't question the Church's stand on issues (however the Church's stand has always been based upon reasonable and/or logical arguements that are only further bolstered with secular research, in my opinion anyway). My changing opinions make Jeff crazy because he likes to settle an issue and be done with it, fighting to defend his position "to the death" (or until he doesn't care anymore - which is how I won the homeschool battle). This could cause a real clash, but fortunately Jeff also tends to not care about much, and we avoid the few issues we clash on.
4. I love to learn and I look for opportunities to pick up something new regularly - knitting being the latest trick. I also tend to "file data" I pick up through observing the world around me. I remember doing this as young as 6 or 7 and being frustrated that others didn't make connections like I did because they missed things that were in the backround or happened over time.
5. If I could, I would pack up the family and travel across the US, visiting as many states as possible before we got too homesick. It would take a larger vehicle and a nice chunk of change for things like gas, food, lodging and souvenirs, plus a lot of vacation time for Jeff to accompany us. At this point the larger vehicle and uncertain economic times are the only things holding me back. The sense of adventure traveling like that would offer makes me want to throw caution to the wind and head out even if Jeff had to stay and work and we were crowded in the little van. On the other hand, the kids and I had a hard time when we went camping 2 days without Daddy, so I'm not so sure it would work out well for us, plus what fun is a family trip if we cannot share it as a family?
6. I could easily live without a TV, but not so easily without a computer and high-speed internet. Jeff is almost the opposite (I think he is equally attached to both), so I try to avoid complaining about the TV and watch shows with my husband to be a good wife.
7. I'm not very good at following rules, so I am going to break rules 4-5, at least until I can find 6 people I know with blogs who haven't already been tagged.
Here are the rules:
Rule #1 ~ Link to the person that tagged you.
Rule #2 ~ Post the rules on your Blog.
Rule #3 ~ Write 6 random things about yourself.
Rule #4 ~ Tag 6 people at the end of your post.
Rule #5 ~ Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their Blog.
Rule #6 ~ Let the tagger know your entry is up.
1. I like to wander. Many times when I am driving somewhere with no time pressure, I will take a different road just to see where it goes. I used to take special trips - esp out where there are few people - just be out and about before the kids had classes to get me out of the house. The flip-side of this is not being a very good housekeeper because I dislike being home (and all the stuff that comes with the house) so much.
2. The wandering trait runs in my family and usually presents itself first in the form of 2-3 year olds who can amaze Houdini at their ability to get out of secure locations just so that they can wander the neighborhood (so far I have had only 1 child like that, but also a nephew, brother, uncle, grandfather and grandmother who all did the same thing as toddlers).
3. I have strong opinions on a lot of things, but I can be made to change my mind, frequently even, with logical and/or reasonable arguements. The only exception being that I don't question the Church's stand on issues (however the Church's stand has always been based upon reasonable and/or logical arguements that are only further bolstered with secular research, in my opinion anyway). My changing opinions make Jeff crazy because he likes to settle an issue and be done with it, fighting to defend his position "to the death" (or until he doesn't care anymore - which is how I won the homeschool battle). This could cause a real clash, but fortunately Jeff also tends to not care about much, and we avoid the few issues we clash on.
4. I love to learn and I look for opportunities to pick up something new regularly - knitting being the latest trick. I also tend to "file data" I pick up through observing the world around me. I remember doing this as young as 6 or 7 and being frustrated that others didn't make connections like I did because they missed things that were in the backround or happened over time.
5. If I could, I would pack up the family and travel across the US, visiting as many states as possible before we got too homesick. It would take a larger vehicle and a nice chunk of change for things like gas, food, lodging and souvenirs, plus a lot of vacation time for Jeff to accompany us. At this point the larger vehicle and uncertain economic times are the only things holding me back. The sense of adventure traveling like that would offer makes me want to throw caution to the wind and head out even if Jeff had to stay and work and we were crowded in the little van. On the other hand, the kids and I had a hard time when we went camping 2 days without Daddy, so I'm not so sure it would work out well for us, plus what fun is a family trip if we cannot share it as a family?
6. I could easily live without a TV, but not so easily without a computer and high-speed internet. Jeff is almost the opposite (I think he is equally attached to both), so I try to avoid complaining about the TV and watch shows with my husband to be a good wife.
7. I'm not very good at following rules, so I am going to break rules 4-5, at least until I can find 6 people I know with blogs who haven't already been tagged.
Here are the rules:
Rule #1 ~ Link to the person that tagged you.
Rule #2 ~ Post the rules on your Blog.
Rule #3 ~ Write 6 random things about yourself.
Rule #4 ~ Tag 6 people at the end of your post.
Rule #5 ~ Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their Blog.
Rule #6 ~ Let the tagger know your entry is up.
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