I found this a while back...scientist now believe that doodling can help improve your memory. Huh. I could have been on the team of monkeys that helped figure that out.
Cannot even begin to count the number of times I got in trouble in school because my "lack of attention" manifested itself in doodling. Notebooks covered in scribbles. Illegible margins filled with circles, scratchings, lines intertwined with lines. Odd how I always seemed to pass my tests and actually had decent grades on my report cards.
Okay, the lessons where I have poetry and screen plays jotted down in the margins--I wasn't listening there. You got me. But those were when the teacher was really, really boring. Putting ink to my teenage angst was so much more polite than yawning and falling asleep, don't you think?
So...for Sister Lythem who felt the need to correct with the ruler and the maths book colliding with my head, Mr. Newport who never really believed that Americans spelled all of those words differently than the British, and Mr. Wilson who claimed my "attitude" would only get me in trouble one day and had lousy taste in art...you were all wrong. So there.
And to my children's future teachers...they will be encouraged to doodle. Sorry. Nothing personal. But I will do my best to teach them to refrain from drawing T-rexs (T-rexi?) piloting F-14s in the middle of your math lesson.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Reason #43 to love the South...
Exactly one week ago we were out frolicking in the snow...
Today? 80 degrees and a bright, sun shiny day. Perfect for exploring...
Roasting marshmallows on the firepit...
Windows wide open. Fresh spring-like breeze flowing through, clearing out stale winter air.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Heroes among us
There are a lot of bloggers out here. A lot of blog readers. And there comes a time when we bloggers need to ask ourselves, shall we use this power for good or for not-so-good? Today I choose to use this for good.
The internet is a strange and magical place. Sometimes we run into people we know. We learn more of their lives and we realize that there are true Heroes lift in this world.
I first met Amy Clipston a number of years ago at a bar-b-que. She was a coworker of friend. (We have since discovered that we graduated from the same college and remain in contact with the same two professors.) Amy and I met again when the same mutual friend was helping Sean and I pack up our house in order for us to move here in October of 2003.
My grandmother had been living with us for a while and, even though she had moved to live with one of my cousins, all of her furniture was still in our house. No one within the family wanted it or had the desire to drive down and fetch it, so our local thrift store was about to receive a windfall of furniture and nick-knacks. Amy's husband had been on dialysis for kidney disease and had just been informed his kidney was failing and was in need of a new one. While their medical insurance covered some of the cost it didn't even come close to covering enough to make it an affordable option. We all had a light bulb moment--Dilemma meet Solution Number Two. Amy and her husband, Joe, were able to sell everything we donated to them. The money raised help cover the cost of transplanting a kidney her husband received from his brother.
Now, several years later, Joe's body is fully rejecting his transplanted kidney. They find themselves back on the donor list. Amy actually completed the tests necessary to find out if she could donate one of her kidneys and, unfortunately, she is not compatible. They are looking at all of their options. Amy is continuing the testing process to become a "paired donor"--if she's a match to someone else then it moves them quicker up the waiting list.
Amy and Joe live the Charlotte, NC area. I know of several regular readers of my humble little blog who also live in that area. If you (no matter where you live) would like to find out more, here's how:
Donor should contact:
Tanya Feemster
CMC Transplant Center
704-355-4910
The donor must have Type O or B blood. A simple blood test will get the ball rolling. If the donor passes that first blood test, then he/she will go through more tests to insure the compatibility and also insure that he/she is well enough to undergo surgery.
All of us 70 thousand or so bloggers out there can make a difference!
The internet is a strange and magical place. Sometimes we run into people we know. We learn more of their lives and we realize that there are true Heroes lift in this world.
I first met Amy Clipston a number of years ago at a bar-b-que. She was a coworker of friend. (We have since discovered that we graduated from the same college and remain in contact with the same two professors.) Amy and I met again when the same mutual friend was helping Sean and I pack up our house in order for us to move here in October of 2003.
My grandmother had been living with us for a while and, even though she had moved to live with one of my cousins, all of her furniture was still in our house. No one within the family wanted it or had the desire to drive down and fetch it, so our local thrift store was about to receive a windfall of furniture and nick-knacks. Amy's husband had been on dialysis for kidney disease and had just been informed his kidney was failing and was in need of a new one. While their medical insurance covered some of the cost it didn't even come close to covering enough to make it an affordable option. We all had a light bulb moment--Dilemma meet Solution Number Two. Amy and her husband, Joe, were able to sell everything we donated to them. The money raised help cover the cost of transplanting a kidney her husband received from his brother.
Now, several years later, Joe's body is fully rejecting his transplanted kidney. They find themselves back on the donor list. Amy actually completed the tests necessary to find out if she could donate one of her kidneys and, unfortunately, she is not compatible. They are looking at all of their options. Amy is continuing the testing process to become a "paired donor"--if she's a match to someone else then it moves them quicker up the waiting list.
Amy and Joe live the Charlotte, NC area. I know of several regular readers of my humble little blog who also live in that area. If you (no matter where you live) would like to find out more, here's how:
Donor should contact:
Tanya Feemster
CMC Transplant Center
704-355-4910
The donor must have Type O or B blood. A simple blood test will get the ball rolling. If the donor passes that first blood test, then he/she will go through more tests to insure the compatibility and also insure that he/she is well enough to undergo surgery.
All of us 70 thousand or so bloggers out there can make a difference!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
If you're the praying kind...
please take a moment and do so...
Word on the street is that the ICC is making their decision on whether or not to go through with the arrest warrant on Wednesday 4 pm Sudan time (9 am EST). Of course threats of reciprocating violence have been made. Because that's an effective way to make a point--welcoming violence with violence. It's worked so well in the past.
And, yes, I have a personal interest in the situation. I would like for my children to have their grandparents around for quite a bit longer, thankyouverymuch!
Word on the street is that the ICC is making their decision on whether or not to go through with the arrest warrant on Wednesday 4 pm Sudan time (9 am EST). Of course threats of reciprocating violence have been made. Because that's an effective way to make a point--welcoming violence with violence. It's worked so well in the past.
And, yes, I have a personal interest in the situation. I would like for my children to have their grandparents around for quite a bit longer, thankyouverymuch!
Monday, March 2, 2009
Don't get into a snowball fight with a 3-year-old...
He cheats!
The south east rarely gets snow like this. Forgive us if we're a tad giddy!
Today I am grateful for the following products: Patagonia Capilene, Icebreaker wool and Gore-Tex. Also for my ancient clothes dryer which has been running non-stop all day! Oh, and also very--so very grateful--for my husband who made the most delicious chicken pot pie for supper!
We also found out today that as a member of EOD K-9 Sean is considered "non-essential" personnel. Translation: if county government is closed again tomorrow, guess who gets to stay home again? Because he is most certainly Essential Personnel here! We may even let him get some school work done.
The south east rarely gets snow like this. Forgive us if we're a tad giddy! 
Today I am grateful for the following products: Patagonia Capilene, Icebreaker wool and Gore-Tex. Also for my ancient clothes dryer which has been running non-stop all day! Oh, and also very--so very grateful--for my husband who made the most delicious chicken pot pie for supper!
We also found out today that as a member of EOD K-9 Sean is considered "non-essential" personnel. Translation: if county government is closed again tomorrow, guess who gets to stay home again? Because he is most certainly Essential Personnel here! We may even let him get some school work done.
Snow daze...
So, finally--the more insane members of our family got their wish--SNOW! More importantly, snow that sticks around for a little longer than a minute!
I was informed yesterday afternoon that we were going out to play. Now. Because the snow doesn't last here, Mommy! It'll be gone in just a little while. Must go out. Now. So, out we went--two wee little bundles of coats, boots, hats and mittens and me. To climb, to roll around, to play. To eat snow. Just not the yellow bits, please.
Dakota T. Dog in his natural element. The snow has brought out the puppy in him!
I was informed yesterday afternoon that we were going out to play. Now. Because the snow doesn't last here, Mommy! It'll be gone in just a little while. Must go out. Now. So, out we went--two wee little bundles of coats, boots, hats and mittens and me. To climb, to roll around, to play. To eat snow. Just not the yellow bits, please.
Then, imagine their uncontainable joy to wake up this morning
to lots and lots of SNOW.
Once again--gathered coats, hats, boots and mittens.
This time I had re-enforcements since Daddy had already taken the day off.
to lots and lots of SNOW.
Once again--gathered coats, hats, boots and mittens.
This time I had re-enforcements since Daddy had already taken the day off.
But for some reason...she just didn't enjoy being out there today. Maybe because the snow was up to her waist? And already wearing boots too big making it difficult to walk. That was fine. Mommy would much rather enjoy
the snow from the warm indoors looking out.
the snow from the warm indoors looking out.
My eldest offspring, on the other hand, cared nothing for the fact that his butt was cold or that he could most likely no longer feel his extremities.
One of our two ancient oak trees in the back yard.
A pause for a mitten fix.
Somehow I doubt that the garbage truck will be making it's way down our street
at some point today. Especially since it was announced that the entire county
government was closed.
at some point today. Especially since it was announced that the entire county
government was closed.
Dakota T. Dog in his natural element. The snow has brought out the puppy in him!
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