The following links take you to several different sites which feature images and text concerning early Bactrian civilisations. I have been transfixed by the intricacy of the metalwork, the delicacy of each item, the cross-cultural roots to the pieces.
I have also been surprised to see a very definite resemblance between many of the figurines and Sumerian motifs and poses.
Anahita Gallery
Discover Magazine
Bactrian Hoard
Archaeology Online
What is Arya?
Fascinating, absolutely and truly fascinating...
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Friday, September 5, 2008
Arm-twisting buy the religious right
Party Poopers?
Uh huh. Another example of wanting to have it both ways. My way or the highway, dudes.
*barf*
Uh huh. Another example of wanting to have it both ways. My way or the highway, dudes.
*barf*
Priceless
Himself and I were watching a little of the Republicrat looney-together.* When the song "Barracuda" by Heart started playing, I looked at him, he looked and me. I asked if he thought Heart had given permission for use of the song. He said, "No."
Turns out he's right....
* A VERY little. Ugh.
Turns out he's right....
* A VERY little. Ugh.
Concerning the loaves of bread
Yesterday I took half a loaf out of the freezer and put it in a ziplock in the cupboard.
All well and good, right.
Not.
I came out this morning and some idiot male had totally overlooked the already thawed bread in the cupboard in the ziplock bag and taken a WHOLE NEW LOAF OUT OF THE FREEZER.
Honest injun, but they just piss me off SO BAD!
All well and good, right.
Not.
I came out this morning and some idiot male had totally overlooked the already thawed bread in the cupboard in the ziplock bag and taken a WHOLE NEW LOAF OUT OF THE FREEZER.
Honest injun, but they just piss me off SO BAD!
Another Friday
It got darned chilly last night. Late October temperature of 46 degrees at the beginning of September. This bodes ill for the rest of the season and, more especially, to the tomato crop.
I had intended to go to the farmer's market yesterday* but ran out of steam around 3 in the afternoon so didn't do it. (I still need a lot of tomatoes.) DD called after 4 yesterday and I was so sleepy that I was having trouble carrying on a coherent conversation. Kept making Freudian slips and using malapropisms. She probably thought I'd had a glass or two of wine when I hadn't. That, and my throat was (and is) dry from the blasted allergies and sinus infection. Ugh.
Don't know if I actually caught anything in my flea trap. This morning I discovered the dog drank the water out of the bowl. I don't know why she did that. She has water in her dish.
Due to my confessing I don't remember Grandie's birthdays, DD sent me the necessary information yesterday. Thanks, Once, they're on the calendar and it's backed up so I won't lose the information. I hope.
The chicken vesuvio turned out very, very well. Because of differences in sizes of the chicken in the recipe and the one I had I made some changes but it turned out great! A link to the recipe and how I handled the changes is here: Chicken Vesuvio
Because the air was so cold and the ground fairly warm, it was very foggy this morning. It's just started to clear up with the sun. Himself doesn't like starting out at 5:30 in the morning in fog. With deer, coons, possums and various other wildlife out right around sunrise, driving through the country is a dicey deal. So far, so good, though.
Keep promising myself I will call the Doc and get in for a scrip for this sinusitis. Then keep forgetting to do it. It's darned miserable, though. I hate having crap draining constantly, having to blow my nose, cough crap up and generally put up with a sensation akin to alkali burns in my face. For those of you fortunate enough to not get this kind of thing, more power to you. I had trouble with it as a kid but all through my young adult years it really didn't bother me much. Now it's getting out of hand but there is very little modern medicine can do about it without ruining my sense of smell. Maybe I'll talk to one of those "woo" guys about acupuncture. Not being a real believer in it, it wouldn't hurt to give it a shot.
The only problem there is about going to the doctor is the receptionist. One of the original Stepford Wives. She just gives me the creeps, all perky and smiley and empty-eyed.** Then there is the problem of her choice of music to play in the waiting room: country gospel. Mercy, spare me from the dreck. I love classical, jazz, rock, all kinds of things but every one of those c.g. "songs" sounds exactly alike to me. Just sets me nerves on edge. Will see if I can ask one of the nurses in confidence when the S.W. is not scheduled and see if I can get in then.
DS2 has been working out with a friend in the evenings. The friend is in the National Guard so he has to keep in shape. Poor DS2 has been aching and sore for days but, if he keeps it up, he'll get over that. He goes to work at 11am, gets off at 7:30 pm, changes clothes and goes to town. Comes back around 11 pm , checks his email and falls into bed until 10 the next morning. What a life.
A guy from my ISP is coming this morning at 9 to put a secondary antenna on the roof of the house. The neighbors have been talking for some months about getting wireless DSL and dropping their unreliable dialup from the local phone company. Now I guess they have decided to do it. It's odd because I get a really strong signal here but there is no place on their property that receives a signal. They're not that far east of us and a bit higher up so you'd think they would get a good one and I wouldn't. No go, though. This operation will boost my signal strength by about double and will really speed things up when they aren't using their portion of the signal. (I think they are putting it in for their oldest granddaughter who is returning to college this week. Weird.)
Somebody has laundry in so there won't be a shower for me this morning. Since it isn't warm and I haven't been getting sweaty or dirty that isn't a big deal. DS3 takes his at night after Himself and I go to bed, SS at 6:30 am, DS2 whenever he gets around to it. That leaves me with various times to get in. As long as someone isn't doing laundry, that is. Unlike our previous house, you don't get frozen out or scalded too badly if you're in the shower while someone is doing clothes but in the event someone decides to get in the shower downstairs while there is laundry in, you're screwed. It isn't so much of an issue this time of year but in January a freezing shower is not a good way to start the day.
Have a list of things that need to be done this weekend but the most important is getting my car fixed. Have the parts but still need tranny fluid so that's another trip to town. Yuck. Maybe I'll sneak in from the south and go to parts store just past the railroad overpass then right back out south. Traffic was so bad yesterday that I was wondering if there is anywhere in the U.S. where 4 out of 5 drivers aren't over 150 and drive 10 miles an hour under the speed limit. I have a hard time driving the speed limit, anyway, but to have to poke along at 15 mph in a 25 zone... that's just unbearable. I think people who are so compulsive they always drive at, or below, the speed limit should go talk to a psychiatrist about it. It's got to be some kind of psychosis.
* Uh, the farmer's market is today. duh
** I would be willing to be that she's gung-ho for that Palin creature, too. I think what really bothers me the most is the empty eyes. Ewwwwwwww.
I had intended to go to the farmer's market yesterday* but ran out of steam around 3 in the afternoon so didn't do it. (I still need a lot of tomatoes.) DD called after 4 yesterday and I was so sleepy that I was having trouble carrying on a coherent conversation. Kept making Freudian slips and using malapropisms. She probably thought I'd had a glass or two of wine when I hadn't. That, and my throat was (and is) dry from the blasted allergies and sinus infection. Ugh.
Don't know if I actually caught anything in my flea trap. This morning I discovered the dog drank the water out of the bowl. I don't know why she did that. She has water in her dish.
Due to my confessing I don't remember Grandie's birthdays, DD sent me the necessary information yesterday. Thanks, Once, they're on the calendar and it's backed up so I won't lose the information. I hope.
The chicken vesuvio turned out very, very well. Because of differences in sizes of the chicken in the recipe and the one I had I made some changes but it turned out great! A link to the recipe and how I handled the changes is here: Chicken Vesuvio
Because the air was so cold and the ground fairly warm, it was very foggy this morning. It's just started to clear up with the sun. Himself doesn't like starting out at 5:30 in the morning in fog. With deer, coons, possums and various other wildlife out right around sunrise, driving through the country is a dicey deal. So far, so good, though.
Keep promising myself I will call the Doc and get in for a scrip for this sinusitis. Then keep forgetting to do it. It's darned miserable, though. I hate having crap draining constantly, having to blow my nose, cough crap up and generally put up with a sensation akin to alkali burns in my face. For those of you fortunate enough to not get this kind of thing, more power to you. I had trouble with it as a kid but all through my young adult years it really didn't bother me much. Now it's getting out of hand but there is very little modern medicine can do about it without ruining my sense of smell. Maybe I'll talk to one of those "woo" guys about acupuncture. Not being a real believer in it, it wouldn't hurt to give it a shot.
The only problem there is about going to the doctor is the receptionist. One of the original Stepford Wives. She just gives me the creeps, all perky and smiley and empty-eyed.** Then there is the problem of her choice of music to play in the waiting room: country gospel. Mercy, spare me from the dreck. I love classical, jazz, rock, all kinds of things but every one of those c.g. "songs" sounds exactly alike to me. Just sets me nerves on edge. Will see if I can ask one of the nurses in confidence when the S.W. is not scheduled and see if I can get in then.
DS2 has been working out with a friend in the evenings. The friend is in the National Guard so he has to keep in shape. Poor DS2 has been aching and sore for days but, if he keeps it up, he'll get over that. He goes to work at 11am, gets off at 7:30 pm, changes clothes and goes to town. Comes back around 11 pm , checks his email and falls into bed until 10 the next morning. What a life.
A guy from my ISP is coming this morning at 9 to put a secondary antenna on the roof of the house. The neighbors have been talking for some months about getting wireless DSL and dropping their unreliable dialup from the local phone company. Now I guess they have decided to do it. It's odd because I get a really strong signal here but there is no place on their property that receives a signal. They're not that far east of us and a bit higher up so you'd think they would get a good one and I wouldn't. No go, though. This operation will boost my signal strength by about double and will really speed things up when they aren't using their portion of the signal. (I think they are putting it in for their oldest granddaughter who is returning to college this week. Weird.)
Somebody has laundry in so there won't be a shower for me this morning. Since it isn't warm and I haven't been getting sweaty or dirty that isn't a big deal. DS3 takes his at night after Himself and I go to bed, SS at 6:30 am, DS2 whenever he gets around to it. That leaves me with various times to get in. As long as someone isn't doing laundry, that is. Unlike our previous house, you don't get frozen out or scalded too badly if you're in the shower while someone is doing clothes but in the event someone decides to get in the shower downstairs while there is laundry in, you're screwed. It isn't so much of an issue this time of year but in January a freezing shower is not a good way to start the day.
Have a list of things that need to be done this weekend but the most important is getting my car fixed. Have the parts but still need tranny fluid so that's another trip to town. Yuck. Maybe I'll sneak in from the south and go to parts store just past the railroad overpass then right back out south. Traffic was so bad yesterday that I was wondering if there is anywhere in the U.S. where 4 out of 5 drivers aren't over 150 and drive 10 miles an hour under the speed limit. I have a hard time driving the speed limit, anyway, but to have to poke along at 15 mph in a 25 zone... that's just unbearable. I think people who are so compulsive they always drive at, or below, the speed limit should go talk to a psychiatrist about it. It's got to be some kind of psychosis.
* Uh, the farmer's market is today. duh
** I would be willing to be that she's gung-ho for that Palin creature, too. I think what really bothers me the most is the empty eyes. Ewwwwwwww.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Mental meanderings
I have decided to divide all new loaves of bread in half and freeze them separately. I just had to toss a whole loaf of potato bread out to the birds because the Herd didn't eat it. Then they complain that there isn't any bread on the off-chance that they want a sandwich. Sheesh
Going to town on a quick run to pick up a chicken and dish detergent later. Will get the chicken at Fareway and have the butcher quarter it and remove the backbone. I am perfectly capable of doing that myself. It's just that the c.t. and arthritis are giving me fits today and I wouldn't be able to do it safely. Likely as not I'd drop the knife on my foot or the dog or something.
If the arthritis in the right thumb gets much worse I might have to learn to write with my left hand. That would be an interesting experiment because I have always been strongly right-handed.
Speaking of such things, I spoke with SS about trying things with his left hand. He probably won't do it as he tends to space off when adults speak to him.
Going to town on a quick run to pick up a chicken and dish detergent later. Will get the chicken at Fareway and have the butcher quarter it and remove the backbone. I am perfectly capable of doing that myself. It's just that the c.t. and arthritis are giving me fits today and I wouldn't be able to do it safely. Likely as not I'd drop the knife on my foot or the dog or something.
If the arthritis in the right thumb gets much worse I might have to learn to write with my left hand. That would be an interesting experiment because I have always been strongly right-handed.
Speaking of such things, I spoke with SS about trying things with his left hand. He probably won't do it as he tends to space off when adults speak to him.
"ghost itches"
Sometime this week we ended up with an infestation of something that bites. I don't know if it's fleas, chiggers, or something else but I do know that it is driving me nuts.
Perhaps we brought something home from the grass at the campground? Or the felines brought in beasts? I haven't actually seen anything so I am sort of batting in the dark when trying to rid the place of the little monsters.
Oddly enough, I am the only one getting munched. DS2 hasn't been bitten while in here. Himself didn't get chomped in the bedroom last night. The cats aren't scratching. The dog isn't itching...
I am thinking I will set up a flea-trap this morning.* It's simple to do and might give me an indication of what it is that is bugging us. I've also thought of a weird thing that might help if whateverthisis turns out NOT to be fleas. Wrap double-sided tape around my ankles. LOL Well, it might work!
Whatever else I do, I've got to get rid of these things.
Just thinking about pests gives me the ghost itches.
* Have a bowl of water, a flashlight that it sitting in my rolling pin cradle on a small box shining on the surface of the water. If it's fleas, they will be attracted to the warmth of the light bulb, just at it and end up in the water. If it isn't fleas? Who knows....
Perhaps we brought something home from the grass at the campground? Or the felines brought in beasts? I haven't actually seen anything so I am sort of batting in the dark when trying to rid the place of the little monsters.
Oddly enough, I am the only one getting munched. DS2 hasn't been bitten while in here. Himself didn't get chomped in the bedroom last night. The cats aren't scratching. The dog isn't itching...
I am thinking I will set up a flea-trap this morning.* It's simple to do and might give me an indication of what it is that is bugging us. I've also thought of a weird thing that might help if whateverthisis turns out NOT to be fleas. Wrap double-sided tape around my ankles. LOL Well, it might work!
Whatever else I do, I've got to get rid of these things.
Just thinking about pests gives me the ghost itches.
* Have a bowl of water, a flashlight that it sitting in my rolling pin cradle on a small box shining on the surface of the water. If it's fleas, they will be attracted to the warmth of the light bulb, just at it and end up in the water. If it isn't fleas? Who knows....
Mozilla Sunbird
I am not to most organized person in the world and have an unfortunate tendency to forget when things are due. Important things, like car insurance, electric and, the ultimate in importance, internet.
Having tried various programs like Quicken and Money and tiring of the over-the-top all-inclusive do-everything-but-clean-the-loo offered by such things, I downloaded Sunbird* and installed it.
To my surprise, I like it!
It has a very clean interface and is simple to use. It doesn't calculate my bank balance. Doesn't figure out mortgage payments (I don't have one anyway,) nor loan payments (only one of those is the last couple of hundred of Lar's college loans.) It doesn't do anything but present a calendar in whatever format the user likes. You can choose to show, or not show, all of your scheduled tasks or events. You can label them in various ways and include notes and pertinent links. (I can't think of a reason I would use a link but it's darned cool, anyway.)
I have been working my way through bills, getting them entered into the program and setting alarms for them. I finally figured out how to fool with XP so that the program will start every time I log on or restart. (It's not as easy as editing the autoexec.bat, not anymore. Now you have to use the MMC, management console, to change Group Options. Ugh. If I still wanted to be doing sys-admin work I'd be doing it. double ugh.) It's not top-heavy so doesn't slow boot or log on, either, unlike the previously mentioned monstrosities. It's nice to have the calendar pop up on the screen so I have a reminder of what is due tomorrow or if something is coming up on the calendar, like birthdays.**
Reminder options are nice, too. You can choose from three different things: screen pop-up, a sound, or the program will send an email. Is that cool or what?
All in all, Sunbird is easy to use, fast, flexible enough for my needs and.... IT'S FREE! Kudos to the Mozilla project for another great offering. Hooray for open source.
* Sunbird is a standalone application. There is another one called Lightning that integrates with Thunderbird. That would be neat for various types of scheduling but not what I need.
** I am notable for not remembering anybody's birthday. I know that Dudie's is coming up but please don't ask me when it is because I simply don't remember... I think towards the end of this month? duh.
Having tried various programs like Quicken and Money and tiring of the over-the-top all-inclusive do-everything-but-clean-the-loo offered by such things, I downloaded Sunbird* and installed it.
To my surprise, I like it!
It has a very clean interface and is simple to use. It doesn't calculate my bank balance. Doesn't figure out mortgage payments (I don't have one anyway,) nor loan payments (only one of those is the last couple of hundred of Lar's college loans.) It doesn't do anything but present a calendar in whatever format the user likes. You can choose to show, or not show, all of your scheduled tasks or events. You can label them in various ways and include notes and pertinent links. (I can't think of a reason I would use a link but it's darned cool, anyway.)
I have been working my way through bills, getting them entered into the program and setting alarms for them. I finally figured out how to fool with XP so that the program will start every time I log on or restart. (It's not as easy as editing the autoexec.bat, not anymore. Now you have to use the MMC, management console, to change Group Options. Ugh. If I still wanted to be doing sys-admin work I'd be doing it. double ugh.) It's not top-heavy so doesn't slow boot or log on, either, unlike the previously mentioned monstrosities. It's nice to have the calendar pop up on the screen so I have a reminder of what is due tomorrow or if something is coming up on the calendar, like birthdays.**
Reminder options are nice, too. You can choose from three different things: screen pop-up, a sound, or the program will send an email. Is that cool or what?
All in all, Sunbird is easy to use, fast, flexible enough for my needs and.... IT'S FREE! Kudos to the Mozilla project for another great offering. Hooray for open source.
* Sunbird is a standalone application. There is another one called Lightning that integrates with Thunderbird. That would be neat for various types of scheduling but not what I need.
** I am notable for not remembering anybody's birthday. I know that Dudie's is coming up but please don't ask me when it is because I simply don't remember... I think towards the end of this month? duh.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Just how stupid
can Americans be? This stupid:
A former celeb speaks out on Obama
That's pretty damned stupid. And, pretty damned stupid right out there where anybody can see it.
Wow. Dumbassery in action.
A former celeb speaks out on Obama
That's pretty damned stupid. And, pretty damned stupid right out there where anybody can see it.
Wow. Dumbassery in action.
No wonder the Republicrats are nervous
Look at this list of protests and various activities that are taking place in the Twins during the convention:
Events/Protest at the RNC
I especially like the thought of this one: 9/3/08 - 8 AM - Join the CEOs of Big Oil in Thanking the Texas Republican Delegates at their Hotel*
That's Netroots Nation in action.
* and the bastards are staying at MY hotel. damn their eyes.
Events/Protest at the RNC
I especially like the thought of this one: 9/3/08 - 8 AM - Join the CEOs of Big Oil in Thanking the Texas Republican Delegates at their Hotel*
That's Netroots Nation in action.
* and the bastards are staying at MY hotel. damn their eyes.
That's me, a netroots fan
OCA article
This struck me in particular:
"Millions of Americans, especially the "netroots," those drawing their information and inspiration from the open sources of the internet, are finally connecting the dots between the burning issues, moving beyond limited concerns to radical awareness. A politicized new majority is waking up to the fact that the proverbial "end" is near. We must move beyond "business as usual" and tepid reform. We must link together our burning issues, unite our heretofore-fragmented forces and communities into a qualitatively more powerful current, and press and confront the Fortune 500 and the nation's thousands of elected public officials-before it's too late."
I have never been very political as I have been working to raise a family and hold things together. Now, though, I am participating more actively because I see disaster not far down the road if we don't rise up and change things. Want a for instance?
Back some while ago, I heard from a local legislator in response to a message I sent in regards to biofuels and alternative energy. After some thought, I responded with a plea for foresight and judgment in the use of ethanol and the need for an acknowledgment of issues far greater than just the economy of Iowa. In other words, please Ms. Legislator, think beyond the county lines and Des Moines because Iowa will stand or fall with the rest of the country and world.
Has she responded in kind? Has she responded at ALL??? No. Perhaps my words fell on deaf ears. Perhaps she didn't understand what I was saying. Perhaps she doesn't want to know and prefers her insular and insulated opinion.
I don't know but her lack of response is indicative to me of a very good possibility that she really doesn't understand.
We must move beyond that type of purblind, introspective, selfish view. We must. There is no longer room for selfishness and greed. As the writer of the article states neither major party offers hope. The Republicans are controlled by a small, select group of neo-conservatives, neopentes and dominionists. The Democrats as a whole are timid and scared of losing their majority in Congress so they huddle around their campfire and bar the doors. Reminds me of the dwarves in C.S. Lewis finale to the Narnia books, "The Last Battle."
This too strikes a chord:
That may, in truth, be our only hope. Not a top-down change but change from down here upwards. How we proceed, how we build networks, understanding, will decide the destiny of our country. Nay, perhaps the destiny of the world.
Can we afford to ignore? Can we not heed the call? No.
So, from here to where? I don't know but I am looking forward to finding out.
This struck me in particular:
"Millions of Americans, especially the "netroots," those drawing their information and inspiration from the open sources of the internet, are finally connecting the dots between the burning issues, moving beyond limited concerns to radical awareness. A politicized new majority is waking up to the fact that the proverbial "end" is near. We must move beyond "business as usual" and tepid reform. We must link together our burning issues, unite our heretofore-fragmented forces and communities into a qualitatively more powerful current, and press and confront the Fortune 500 and the nation's thousands of elected public officials-before it's too late."
I have never been very political as I have been working to raise a family and hold things together. Now, though, I am participating more actively because I see disaster not far down the road if we don't rise up and change things. Want a for instance?
Back some while ago, I heard from a local legislator in response to a message I sent in regards to biofuels and alternative energy. After some thought, I responded with a plea for foresight and judgment in the use of ethanol and the need for an acknowledgment of issues far greater than just the economy of Iowa. In other words, please Ms. Legislator, think beyond the county lines and Des Moines because Iowa will stand or fall with the rest of the country and world.
Has she responded in kind? Has she responded at ALL??? No. Perhaps my words fell on deaf ears. Perhaps she didn't understand what I was saying. Perhaps she doesn't want to know and prefers her insular and insulated opinion.
I don't know but her lack of response is indicative to me of a very good possibility that she really doesn't understand.
We must move beyond that type of purblind, introspective, selfish view. We must. There is no longer room for selfishness and greed. As the writer of the article states neither major party offers hope. The Republicans are controlled by a small, select group of neo-conservatives, neopentes and dominionists. The Democrats as a whole are timid and scared of losing their majority in Congress so they huddle around their campfire and bar the doors. Reminds me of the dwarves in C.S. Lewis finale to the Narnia books, "The Last Battle."
This too strikes a chord:
"A potentially world-changing segment of the body politic is finally waking up to the fact that single-issue politics and limited-focus organizing cannot address the current Crisis. Facing a generalized breakdown of the political and economic System and a rapid degradation of global life-support systems, it is obviously insane to keep repeating, "My issue and my organization or my blog is more important than yours," or to wait for the Democratic Party and its latest middle of the road messiah, Barack Obama, to save us."
That may, in truth, be our only hope. Not a top-down change but change from down here upwards. How we proceed, how we build networks, understanding, will decide the destiny of our country. Nay, perhaps the destiny of the world.
Can we afford to ignore? Can we not heed the call? No.
So, from here to where? I don't know but I am looking forward to finding out.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Dysgraphia*
DIL came up Saturday for a short visit. Had some barware, photos, a pasta machine and raclette grill for her to haul back with her.
In talking about her classes this year, she mentioned that one of her students has a condition called "dysgraphia." Evidently, it can occur when a person who is strongly left-handed is forced to write solely with their right hand. She noticed several instances in her student's work that reflected characteristics of SS's handwriting.
He does write upside down and she pointed out the problems with letter formation, some letters backwards, and many not complete. He also uses a strange mix of upper- and lower-case letters, possibly due to difficulties in controlling hand movements.
This situation has been frustrating for all concerned. The schools, us, his step-siblings, and most of all for him. He resists the school's efforts to help him with letter formation and hand movement. Probably a pride-thing going on with that.
DIL says that her student was told to start doing things left-handed. Brush teeth, for instance, then work your way up to trying handwriting.
I think, when SS gets home this evening, his father is planning on talking to him about trying a left-handed approach.
We shall see. It would be much better for him to get this straightened out before he gets any older. I will see how it goes before I say anything to the teachers, too.
* I haven't looked this up yet but plan on doing so. What do you think, E?
In talking about her classes this year, she mentioned that one of her students has a condition called "dysgraphia." Evidently, it can occur when a person who is strongly left-handed is forced to write solely with their right hand. She noticed several instances in her student's work that reflected characteristics of SS's handwriting.
He does write upside down and she pointed out the problems with letter formation, some letters backwards, and many not complete. He also uses a strange mix of upper- and lower-case letters, possibly due to difficulties in controlling hand movements.This situation has been frustrating for all concerned. The schools, us, his step-siblings, and most of all for him. He resists the school's efforts to help him with letter formation and hand movement. Probably a pride-thing going on with that.
DIL says that her student was told to start doing things left-handed. Brush teeth, for instance, then work your way up to trying handwriting.
I think, when SS gets home this evening, his father is planning on talking to him about trying a left-handed approach.
We shall see. It would be much better for him to get this straightened out before he gets any older. I will see how it goes before I say anything to the teachers, too.
* I haven't looked this up yet but plan on doing so. What do you think, E?
Waggy and the Camping Trip
Mistress Fry Bread the Great likes going places so we decided to take her down yesterday to the campground for the night.
We thought she'd like that.
She didn't.
She spent the first hour huddling under Himself's legs.
The second hour under the rv.
The third hour in an undecided state as to whether she should be under the rv or Himself's legs.
Around the fourth hour she finally got up and staggered down the bank to relieve herself.
Then back up under the rv.
We cooked supper. Ate supper. Cleaned up after supper. She still wasn't liking the situation.
She did cheer up some when she got a bone from the steaks.
Then it was bedtime.
I got up in the middle of the night to go to the potty.
Stepped on the dog who was laying right next to the bed on the bathroom linoleum.
Her bedding was up at the other end of the rv.
Escorted Her Majesty to her bedding and left her there.
She was still there this am.
At least she didn't pee on the floor.
Nor bark.
Nor whine.
Just sulked.
She came back with me this morning and is currently out like a light in her dog cage.
Goofy beast.
We thought she'd like that.
She didn't.
She spent the first hour huddling under Himself's legs.
The second hour under the rv.
The third hour in an undecided state as to whether she should be under the rv or Himself's legs.
Around the fourth hour she finally got up and staggered down the bank to relieve herself.
Then back up under the rv.
We cooked supper. Ate supper. Cleaned up after supper. She still wasn't liking the situation.
She did cheer up some when she got a bone from the steaks.
Then it was bedtime.
I got up in the middle of the night to go to the potty.
Stepped on the dog who was laying right next to the bed on the bathroom linoleum.
Her bedding was up at the other end of the rv.
Escorted Her Majesty to her bedding and left her there.
She was still there this am.
At least she didn't pee on the floor.
Nor bark.
Nor whine.
Just sulked.
She came back with me this morning and is currently out like a light in her dog cage.
Goofy beast.
Wonderful weekend!
Himself and I took the rv, ourselves and food about 20 miles away for the weekend.
No kids. No phones. No tv.
We had a marvelous time doing nothing but chat, eat and sleep. The campground is very clean and, even though it was nearly full, the hordes of small children running around were very well behaved. There were no loud parties, no yelling drunks, no fights. Just quiet and relaxation.
We had the end spot, about 40 feet from the footbridge that crosses the creek. We had a lot of fun watching the kids and adults on the bridge, catching turtles and small fish. The little guys got so excited about catching a sunfish that they left their sister with the fish on the pole and ran all the way down the campground to get Dad. By the time they got there and had Dad in tow, sis had lost the fish. This begat wailing and perturbations but they didn't last long. LOL
We had burgers Friday night and brats Saturday night. Then jerk chicken on an open campfire with Himself's best baked beans. Thick t-bone steaks and baked taters on the campfire last night, too. We just pigged out all weekend.
Went to bed when we wanted to, got up when we wanted to. Did what we wanted to, or not, just as we wished. A small oasis in an otherwise nutty life.
An added bonus was that Himself finally (FINALLY!) got to go golfing. He was so happy about that. The first round went pretty fast even though he was pretty rusty. The second round he was hitting better but ended up behind a woman with two teenagers. He let them play through becausethey had a cart. Turned out to be a small error. The woman and boy neither could hit worth a darn. After mis-tees, balls in the ditch, over on a parallel hole and a very slow rate of play, Himself was wishing he had just kept going ahead of them. He said that he could play a hole and be up at the next tee before they managed to get their balls down the fairway. LOL Considering the fact that it was blazing hot and extremely humid, it made for a long afternoon. He enjoyed himself, just the same. Made us both happy.
I used the time to straighten the rv, do some cleaning and general piddling around. Around 11 a.m. I decided to pack up some stuff and bring it back. Walked into the house (which is still standing, BTW) and there were (and still are) dishes piled up in the sink and on the counter. Dishwasher not emptied and starting to smell a bit weird. Books and art supplies all over the living room. Oh, well, counting our blessings? There were no accidents, mishaps, drunks or anything seriously out of the ordinary while we were gone. We don't expect such things but, with teen age boys, you just never know.
After Himself gets off this afternoon, we will drive down, finish locking everything down and bring the beast home. Campers are supposed to be out by noon but there isn't anything we can do about the schedule.* I don't drive the thing because the steering is weird and I just freeze. I might consider giving it a shot but the wind is blowing quite strongly from the southwest and I don't think I could hold it on the road. It's no big deal for him, though. He's accustomed to driving 80,000 pound death bullets in all kinds of weather, road conditions and traffic. A little wind a loose steering is like a walk in the park to him.
I'm home now (obviously) but not doing much of anything. I suppose it would be a good idea to run that dishwasher again, just to rinse things off. I might do that later. Right now I'm otherwise occupied.
It was just so nice to have the time all by ourselves.
* We've never stayed at this particular campground before and, as there isn't a full time attendant nor a "host camper," I don't know who would raise a fuss. If someone does, I will just handle whatever needs to be done. The park is owned by the county conservation commission and only has part-time employees. Don't know who I'd talk to about leaving the unit there, anyway, so.... we shall see what we see. If it even comes up.
No kids. No phones. No tv.
We had a marvelous time doing nothing but chat, eat and sleep. The campground is very clean and, even though it was nearly full, the hordes of small children running around were very well behaved. There were no loud parties, no yelling drunks, no fights. Just quiet and relaxation.
We had the end spot, about 40 feet from the footbridge that crosses the creek. We had a lot of fun watching the kids and adults on the bridge, catching turtles and small fish. The little guys got so excited about catching a sunfish that they left their sister with the fish on the pole and ran all the way down the campground to get Dad. By the time they got there and had Dad in tow, sis had lost the fish. This begat wailing and perturbations but they didn't last long. LOL
We had burgers Friday night and brats Saturday night. Then jerk chicken on an open campfire with Himself's best baked beans. Thick t-bone steaks and baked taters on the campfire last night, too. We just pigged out all weekend.
Went to bed when we wanted to, got up when we wanted to. Did what we wanted to, or not, just as we wished. A small oasis in an otherwise nutty life.
An added bonus was that Himself finally (FINALLY!) got to go golfing. He was so happy about that. The first round went pretty fast even though he was pretty rusty. The second round he was hitting better but ended up behind a woman with two teenagers. He let them play through becausethey had a cart. Turned out to be a small error. The woman and boy neither could hit worth a darn. After mis-tees, balls in the ditch, over on a parallel hole and a very slow rate of play, Himself was wishing he had just kept going ahead of them. He said that he could play a hole and be up at the next tee before they managed to get their balls down the fairway. LOL Considering the fact that it was blazing hot and extremely humid, it made for a long afternoon. He enjoyed himself, just the same. Made us both happy.
I used the time to straighten the rv, do some cleaning and general piddling around. Around 11 a.m. I decided to pack up some stuff and bring it back. Walked into the house (which is still standing, BTW) and there were (and still are) dishes piled up in the sink and on the counter. Dishwasher not emptied and starting to smell a bit weird. Books and art supplies all over the living room. Oh, well, counting our blessings? There were no accidents, mishaps, drunks or anything seriously out of the ordinary while we were gone. We don't expect such things but, with teen age boys, you just never know.
After Himself gets off this afternoon, we will drive down, finish locking everything down and bring the beast home. Campers are supposed to be out by noon but there isn't anything we can do about the schedule.* I don't drive the thing because the steering is weird and I just freeze. I might consider giving it a shot but the wind is blowing quite strongly from the southwest and I don't think I could hold it on the road. It's no big deal for him, though. He's accustomed to driving 80,000 pound death bullets in all kinds of weather, road conditions and traffic. A little wind a loose steering is like a walk in the park to him.
I'm home now (obviously) but not doing much of anything. I suppose it would be a good idea to run that dishwasher again, just to rinse things off. I might do that later. Right now I'm otherwise occupied.
It was just so nice to have the time all by ourselves.
* We've never stayed at this particular campground before and, as there isn't a full time attendant nor a "host camper," I don't know who would raise a fuss. If someone does, I will just handle whatever needs to be done. The park is owned by the county conservation commission and only has part-time employees. Don't know who I'd talk to about leaving the unit there, anyway, so.... we shall see what we see. If it even comes up.
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