It's been way too long since I posted last... Let's just say my business has taken off at about the same time as I decided to get the carpets cleaned, and the combination of cleaning frenzy last week and long hours of tutoring these past few weeks have me snowed under.
I the meantime, I found this mathematical calendar of sorts that you can link to for quotes and whatnot, off a bigger site with all sorts of calendars on it... Enjoy!
I'll try to get back to blogging soon, when I have some thoughts in my head beyond how to do my job well and how to get more sleep, more exercise, and more hours in the day!
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Recycling and bicycling...
A friend and I got in a long conversation last night about recycling, specifically my experience of recycling. How long have I been doing it, what do I recycle, etc. I had to think back to answer a lot of her questions. As many of my readers know, I am rather obsessed with recycling, though our conversation last night revealed that there is a whole 'nother level of recycling obsession that I haven't reached yet! Anyway, my response to my friend went something like this:
I began to recycle so long ago I don't remember how long it has been. I grew up in a home where we recycled newspaper at our school's paper drives. My dad brought home piles of used computer paper -- the old wide pin-feed paper with the green bars on it -- and we reused it for drawings, banners, and other projects. In my college years, I learned about waste reduction in very physical ways: I worked at a grocery store where various employees broke down the cardboard cartons for recycling and sorted the glass soda bottles for return to the bottling companies. The latter was a frequent assignment for me, and even though it was a dirty, sticky job, it struck me as a worthwhile effort.
Later on, when we moved to NC, long before there was curbside recycling, I began recycling in earnest. Used to be, the fire stations here would collect aluminum cans and recycle them, so I took can over there. I took our newspapers to the paper drives at local schools; later on, newspapers went to a collection site at a nearby high school. I reused paper grocery bags (before and after the advent of plastic grocery bags) as wrapping for packages that went across the country to friends and family (yes, folks, the box used to have to be covered in paper or the USPS wouldn't accept it!) I also used the bags to make newspaper-filled "blocks" for the kids to build with, and the kids cut up more bags to make costumes and other arts and crafts projects. I've always washed and reused plastic bags from bread and such and glass jars and other reusable containers, though I don't acquire as many now as I used to. Since the grocery stores started recycling paper and pastic bags -- that's been at least ten years -- I have recycled excess and worn out plastic and paper bags of all kinds that way. Recently, as I've found more opportunities for recycling, I've recycled more things: dead batteries, broken electronic devices...click the link above for a list of all the things that can be recycled!
Recycling has always been a way for me to do a small action that might help save the earth, to lighten my footprint upon this beautiful world that is suffering from so much trampling at the present time... I believe that the accumulated recycling effort of one person over a lifetime can have some positive impact, and I also have always hoped to provide an example to my children and others of how they can be effective in these small and personal ways.
So now, my readers, I have a request to make of you: if you can spare a moment, please share your experience of recycling either as comments on this blog or in an e-mail to me; my friend is writing a book that addresses some of these issues, and she welcomes personal stories to include in her book and to use for ideas. She would also like to know peoples' experience of relying mainly on biking or walking or mass transit to get most places (i.e. because of not having a car or as an attempt to minimize car use.) If you have expoerience of that to share also, write about that, too. Contributing to my friend's efforts can be another small and easy way of making a difference. Thanks to all!
I began to recycle so long ago I don't remember how long it has been. I grew up in a home where we recycled newspaper at our school's paper drives. My dad brought home piles of used computer paper -- the old wide pin-feed paper with the green bars on it -- and we reused it for drawings, banners, and other projects. In my college years, I learned about waste reduction in very physical ways: I worked at a grocery store where various employees broke down the cardboard cartons for recycling and sorted the glass soda bottles for return to the bottling companies. The latter was a frequent assignment for me, and even though it was a dirty, sticky job, it struck me as a worthwhile effort.
Later on, when we moved to NC, long before there was curbside recycling, I began recycling in earnest. Used to be, the fire stations here would collect aluminum cans and recycle them, so I took can over there. I took our newspapers to the paper drives at local schools; later on, newspapers went to a collection site at a nearby high school. I reused paper grocery bags (before and after the advent of plastic grocery bags) as wrapping for packages that went across the country to friends and family (yes, folks, the box used to have to be covered in paper or the USPS wouldn't accept it!) I also used the bags to make newspaper-filled "blocks" for the kids to build with, and the kids cut up more bags to make costumes and other arts and crafts projects. I've always washed and reused plastic bags from bread and such and glass jars and other reusable containers, though I don't acquire as many now as I used to. Since the grocery stores started recycling paper and pastic bags -- that's been at least ten years -- I have recycled excess and worn out plastic and paper bags of all kinds that way. Recently, as I've found more opportunities for recycling, I've recycled more things: dead batteries, broken electronic devices...click the link above for a list of all the things that can be recycled!
Recycling has always been a way for me to do a small action that might help save the earth, to lighten my footprint upon this beautiful world that is suffering from so much trampling at the present time... I believe that the accumulated recycling effort of one person over a lifetime can have some positive impact, and I also have always hoped to provide an example to my children and others of how they can be effective in these small and personal ways.
So now, my readers, I have a request to make of you: if you can spare a moment, please share your experience of recycling either as comments on this blog or in an e-mail to me; my friend is writing a book that addresses some of these issues, and she welcomes personal stories to include in her book and to use for ideas. She would also like to know peoples' experience of relying mainly on biking or walking or mass transit to get most places (i.e. because of not having a car or as an attempt to minimize car use.) If you have expoerience of that to share also, write about that, too. Contributing to my friend's efforts can be another small and easy way of making a difference. Thanks to all!
friendship
I woke up early this morning (early for a Saturday -- 6:43 a.m.) thinking about friendship, thinking back over the years to when I first came to Charlotte (June '76) and didn't know a soul here. I missed my family and friends back home terribly, and we wrote letters back and forth and chatted on the phone when we could. (This was way before the days of cheap long distance, cell phones, e-mail, and instant messaging, so phone contact was not all that frequent!) I worked temp jobs to pass the time until I could find a teaching job, and I met good people there, but I wasn't at any one job long enough to develop any long-term friendships. I wasn't going to church at the time, so that wasn't an avenue for meeting people. I was taking riding lessons, but everyone at the barn was either a lot older than me or a lot younger. It was a really long summer. In August I started my first teaching job, and began to settle in. That first year teaching I made a really good friend, a science teacher, but at the end of that year she moved to Atlanta. I was devastated! The next year I got to be good friends with the teacher who took her place, but at the end of that year she moved to Raleigh! Then I got pregnant and quit my job -- and there went what I thought was my best avenue for making friends! I had met a lot of other people during those two years, and I kept in touch with some of them, but none of those friendships were of the sort that I had left behind in Atlanta... But lo and behold, other avenues opened up, and I subsequently learned much about friendship, especially the truth of the old adage: to have a friend you have to be one. Eventually, through those early experiences here, I learned to be grateful for my friends back home and to trust that I would find friends in my new home, and I discovered that the route to friendship was doing the things that make my life meaningful, letting go of worry about when and if I would find a friend, and living in the present moment.
I have friendships now with all kinds of people, and these friendships have sustained me through the proverbial "thick and thin" (both literally and figuratively!) Friendships don't appear out of thin air, they begin with a contact, an openness to learning about each other, listening during a walk or a meal or while working on a project together... So where did I meet all these people? Thinking back, I see that I met one really good friend on a walk around the block, others I met through my volunteer work (La Leche League, Mecklenburg County Literacy Council, Mathcounts coaching, Math Club...), some I met through my tutoring work (parents of students), some from church and support groups, lots were parents of my children's friends, or parents I met through homeschooling connections, or friends of my children, or friends of other friends... and quite a few fall into several of those categories. Some have stuck around and others have moved away, but some of those latter I am still in touch with. Some who I lost touch with I later reconnected with, a joyful experience for both of us! That's happened a couple times just in the last year. And of course -- last but not least -- some of my closest friends are family members, both blood relatives and "married-ins".
So, how to find a friend? The only way that has ever worked for me is to put myself out there, follow my interests, and keep my ears and my heart open all the while for the adventure and blessing of friendship. I act on this last bit by trying to remember to treat each person I meet as though they already are a friend. That, to me, is the meaning of the saying I quoted above.
My friends have taught me how to be a friend. Through their patience and care, I discovered over the years that it takes work and time to build and sustain a friendship -- friendships don't happen overnight, or by chance. Good friendships have a lot of listening built in, and I love to listen to my friends about as much as I like to talk...well, maybe even more. :-) For me, there is no better feeling than to know I have given support and encouragement to a friend... I am so grateful for the presence of my friends in my life, for all the love and forgiveness and laughter and sorrow we have shared.
(...and as she takes her sappy self off to breakfast, the strains of "Precious Friend" echo in the background...)
I have friendships now with all kinds of people, and these friendships have sustained me through the proverbial "thick and thin" (both literally and figuratively!) Friendships don't appear out of thin air, they begin with a contact, an openness to learning about each other, listening during a walk or a meal or while working on a project together... So where did I meet all these people? Thinking back, I see that I met one really good friend on a walk around the block, others I met through my volunteer work (La Leche League, Mecklenburg County Literacy Council, Mathcounts coaching, Math Club...), some I met through my tutoring work (parents of students), some from church and support groups, lots were parents of my children's friends, or parents I met through homeschooling connections, or friends of my children, or friends of other friends... and quite a few fall into several of those categories. Some have stuck around and others have moved away, but some of those latter I am still in touch with. Some who I lost touch with I later reconnected with, a joyful experience for both of us! That's happened a couple times just in the last year. And of course -- last but not least -- some of my closest friends are family members, both blood relatives and "married-ins".
So, how to find a friend? The only way that has ever worked for me is to put myself out there, follow my interests, and keep my ears and my heart open all the while for the adventure and blessing of friendship. I act on this last bit by trying to remember to treat each person I meet as though they already are a friend. That, to me, is the meaning of the saying I quoted above.
My friends have taught me how to be a friend. Through their patience and care, I discovered over the years that it takes work and time to build and sustain a friendship -- friendships don't happen overnight, or by chance. Good friendships have a lot of listening built in, and I love to listen to my friends about as much as I like to talk...well, maybe even more. :-) For me, there is no better feeling than to know I have given support and encouragement to a friend... I am so grateful for the presence of my friends in my life, for all the love and forgiveness and laughter and sorrow we have shared.
(...and as she takes her sappy self off to breakfast, the strains of "Precious Friend" echo in the background...)
Saturday, February 11, 2006
blogging, justice, peace, headaches
True confessions: I've been neglecting my blog while joining in discussions on another blog... among other things, on that blog we have been discussing justice, the existence of God & the problem of pain, what language the Bible was written in... it's been interesting. On the way to looking up the slogan (actually a quote from Pope Paul VI) "If You Want Peace, Work for Justice", I found this site which has tons of quotes on peace, justice, and related issues. It is quite thought-provoking to read through the quotes here. Also on my web surfing I found a site that sells magnetic ribbons with an unusual slogan...
It's been a real busy week (not that I'm complaining!) and it ain't over yet... the Math Club meets this morning. So it's not so good that I woke up 2.5 hours early with this splitting headache. I'm going back to bed, but I'll try to write again soon...
It's been a real busy week (not that I'm complaining!) and it ain't over yet... the Math Club meets this morning. So it's not so good that I woke up 2.5 hours early with this splitting headache. I'm going back to bed, but I'll try to write again soon...
Saturday, January 28, 2006
More about All Saints
I started to change the post I wrote about the books I've been reading, but then I realized that someone who read that already wouldn't go back and re-read it... just in case anyone is reading my blog these days. So I thought I'd just write a little more about it here. What I wanted to say was about All Saints...I learn something every day from reading about the lives of these amazing people. It makes me look at the people around me differently, too -- so many of the people in this book were ordinary people who did extraordinary things in their everyday lives. One of my favorites is Brother Lawrence (January 11). He lived in the 17th century, a lay brother at a Carmelite monastery in Paris. He worked in the monastery kitchen; he had little or no formal education. But he had a beautiful spirit; here is a quote from the passage about him in All Saints:
His method was to cultivate at all times a consciousness of the presence of God. According to Brother Lawrence, wherever we might find ourselves, whatever the task at hand, we should perform our duties with a consciousness of God's loving presence. With such an awareness all our activities were hallowed; we would thus find ourselves in a state of continuous prayer or conversation with God....It was well to construct an oratory in one's heart, in which to return and dwell. "Our sanctification," he believed, "did not depend upon changing our works, but in doing for God's sake that which we commonly do for our own."
I know this is not a new idea. But what more wonderful way to spend one's life, no matter what one's station or circumstances!
I was going to write some more, but I think this is enough for now. Sweet dreams!
His method was to cultivate at all times a consciousness of the presence of God. According to Brother Lawrence, wherever we might find ourselves, whatever the task at hand, we should perform our duties with a consciousness of God's loving presence. With such an awareness all our activities were hallowed; we would thus find ourselves in a state of continuous prayer or conversation with God....It was well to construct an oratory in one's heart, in which to return and dwell. "Our sanctification," he believed, "did not depend upon changing our works, but in doing for God's sake that which we commonly do for our own."
I know this is not a new idea. But what more wonderful way to spend one's life, no matter what one's station or circumstances!
I was going to write some more, but I think this is enough for now. Sweet dreams!
Friday, January 27, 2006
more about books...
I don't have enough room to put all the books I have loved on the little list in my profile, and besides, whoever looks there anyhow? So I'm thinking I might post from time to time on books I have enjoyed. I listed a few in my last post, but there are lots of others... just now, looking for other things, I came across a link I made to the website for an author whose book I loved when I read it a few years ago. The book is Learning to Fall: The Blessings of an Imperfect Life, and it's by Philip Simmons. I loved this book because it helped me to see things in a different way, helped me to look at my life in a different way than I had before. Phil Simmons said the blessing of his illness (he suffered from ALS) was that “a fuller consciousness of my own mortality has been my best guide to being more fully alive”.
Another book that came to mind this morning is Nurse Matilda, by Christianna Brand. I read this one with my kids (I think mostly Emily) and we loved it, and the sequel to it, whose name I can't remember at the moment. There is a new movie out that is loosely based on the Nurse Matilda books, Nanny McPhee. Emma Thompson did the adaptation and stars in the movie. I read a review of it and a story about Thompson writing the screenplay in this morning's paper. Sounds good, though there are several major departures from the book...
I'm interested in knowing what books you-all have enjoyed, too.
Gotta run! Lots to do today and time's getting away from me...
Another book that came to mind this morning is Nurse Matilda, by Christianna Brand. I read this one with my kids (I think mostly Emily) and we loved it, and the sequel to it, whose name I can't remember at the moment. There is a new movie out that is loosely based on the Nurse Matilda books, Nanny McPhee. Emma Thompson did the adaptation and stars in the movie. I read a review of it and a story about Thompson writing the screenplay in this morning's paper. Sounds good, though there are several major departures from the book...
I'm interested in knowing what books you-all have enjoyed, too.
Gotta run! Lots to do today and time's getting away from me...
January blues
Here it is, almost the end of January, and I haven't written in my blog but once. How can I expect regular readers if I am such an irregular poster?!
It's been a month of a lot of work and a lot of things to think about and work on, besides my usual employment. And I did get the little Christmas tree dismantled and out to the trash, a few days ago. I'm trying not to get back into the mode of leaving the tree up indefinitely as I used to do. I was going to take a photo of it before I took it down and then forgot. Sorry. But it was pretty, thanks to some expert decorating by my dear niece and nephews...
So I haven't had any brilliant or even very interesting (to me) thoughts lately, thus I haven't posted. One of the slogans I learned from a wise friend many years back was "Do the Next Right Thing", and that's been my m.o. lately. I have felt so overwhelmed at times that it is all I can do to figure out what the Next Right Thing is, and then do it. Not much brainstorming going on.
Let's see, I have made lots of trips to the library; I could tell about some of the interesting books I have been reading, and some of the good music I have been listening to...
I just finished The Nudist on the Late Shift, by Po Bronson, and that was great! It's all about Silicon Valley culture in the late 90's or so, written in chapters all about different aspects of the computer software business. In each chapter the author interviews and/or shadows several individuals and tells of his experiences in that particular realm. There were places that I just laughed out loud, it was so crazy! (The title story in particular is quite amusing.) I learned a lot about how lots of things work (in business etc.) It also gave me a window into a culture that I will be visiting from time to time in the coming years. I originally found a copy at Book Buyers, then found another copy on the book sale table at the library and snarfed it up so I'd have one to share, and not have to give up my copy. Now I want to read Bronson's other books....
Just for fun I have started reading a Terry Pratchett book, Color of Magic, that a friend gave me awhile back, It's the first book in the Discworld series. It is very good so far but I am not far into it. (I ought to be reading that now instead of blogging, as then I might have some chance of falling back asleep! It's 3:14 a.m.)
I got several diet books out of the library to help me stay motivated on trying to eat healthier... one of them is Dr. Shapiro's picture perfect weight loss : the visual program for permanent weight loss by Howard M. Shapiro; it was suggested by a good friend who lost a lot of weight using this plan some years ago. It is a book that gives great inspiration for eating better, just from looking at the pictures!
I'm also reading 10 Habits that Mess Up a Woman's Diet, by Elizabeth Somer, M.A., R.D. It's another good motivator, very sensible, and an interesting read. I'm reading it slowly so I can work on one thing at a time and not get so overwhelmed by new ideas that I give up.
One other book I am reading very slowly is All Saints, by Robert Ellsberg. It has a short piece about one saint for each day of the year, but here's the unusual thing: not all of the people in it are canonized saints! They are all very interesting, though -- people from all different periods of history and quite varied cultures and areas of the world. The author must have done an unbelievable amount of research: each piece is followed by a reference (usually a book or two) about that individual. I'm reading one piece a day, so this is a book that ought to last me all year.
Oh -- music -- just one quick one before I sign off. I've been listening to some Putamayo cd's, one that Liz gave me for Christmas, "American Blues", and another, from the library, "South Pacific Islands". Both are wonderful. Then throw in some Chick Corea and Ella Fitzgerald, with a sprinkling of various Irish music, among other things, and you have what I'm listening to at the moment.
Well, it's about time to get back to bed. I'll try to write again soon!
My love to all!
It's been a month of a lot of work and a lot of things to think about and work on, besides my usual employment. And I did get the little Christmas tree dismantled and out to the trash, a few days ago. I'm trying not to get back into the mode of leaving the tree up indefinitely as I used to do. I was going to take a photo of it before I took it down and then forgot. Sorry. But it was pretty, thanks to some expert decorating by my dear niece and nephews...
So I haven't had any brilliant or even very interesting (to me) thoughts lately, thus I haven't posted. One of the slogans I learned from a wise friend many years back was "Do the Next Right Thing", and that's been my m.o. lately. I have felt so overwhelmed at times that it is all I can do to figure out what the Next Right Thing is, and then do it. Not much brainstorming going on.
Let's see, I have made lots of trips to the library; I could tell about some of the interesting books I have been reading, and some of the good music I have been listening to...
I just finished The Nudist on the Late Shift, by Po Bronson, and that was great! It's all about Silicon Valley culture in the late 90's or so, written in chapters all about different aspects of the computer software business. In each chapter the author interviews and/or shadows several individuals and tells of his experiences in that particular realm. There were places that I just laughed out loud, it was so crazy! (The title story in particular is quite amusing.) I learned a lot about how lots of things work (in business etc.) It also gave me a window into a culture that I will be visiting from time to time in the coming years. I originally found a copy at Book Buyers, then found another copy on the book sale table at the library and snarfed it up so I'd have one to share, and not have to give up my copy. Now I want to read Bronson's other books....
Just for fun I have started reading a Terry Pratchett book, Color of Magic, that a friend gave me awhile back, It's the first book in the Discworld series. It is very good so far but I am not far into it. (I ought to be reading that now instead of blogging, as then I might have some chance of falling back asleep! It's 3:14 a.m.)
I got several diet books out of the library to help me stay motivated on trying to eat healthier... one of them is Dr. Shapiro's picture perfect weight loss : the visual program for permanent weight loss by Howard M. Shapiro; it was suggested by a good friend who lost a lot of weight using this plan some years ago. It is a book that gives great inspiration for eating better, just from looking at the pictures!
I'm also reading 10 Habits that Mess Up a Woman's Diet, by Elizabeth Somer, M.A., R.D. It's another good motivator, very sensible, and an interesting read. I'm reading it slowly so I can work on one thing at a time and not get so overwhelmed by new ideas that I give up.
One other book I am reading very slowly is All Saints, by Robert Ellsberg. It has a short piece about one saint for each day of the year, but here's the unusual thing: not all of the people in it are canonized saints! They are all very interesting, though -- people from all different periods of history and quite varied cultures and areas of the world. The author must have done an unbelievable amount of research: each piece is followed by a reference (usually a book or two) about that individual. I'm reading one piece a day, so this is a book that ought to last me all year.
Oh -- music -- just one quick one before I sign off. I've been listening to some Putamayo cd's, one that Liz gave me for Christmas, "American Blues", and another, from the library, "South Pacific Islands". Both are wonderful. Then throw in some Chick Corea and Ella Fitzgerald, with a sprinkling of various Irish music, among other things, and you have what I'm listening to at the moment.
Well, it's about time to get back to bed. I'll try to write again soon!
My love to all!
Sunday, January 08, 2006
more about Veggie Revolution
Just an update about my friend Sally's book, Veggie Revolution... There was a great write-up in the Observer on Christmas Day about the book (click here for the link) and I wrote a proper review of the book on Amazon.com (click here and scroll way down.)
Or you can just click on the title of this post and go to Sally's blog; she has links to all the above and much more.
p.s. Still working on those Christmas cards. My tree is still up (and much more decorated!) and yesterday on Prairie Home Companion G. K. said that in Sweden they celebrate Christmas season until January 13...I'll go along with that! :-)
For you skeptics out there -- here's a quote from a book review of Swedish Christmas: "....the Swedish Christmas season, beginning with the First of Advent in early December and continuing through to Hilarymas on January 13th, when the festivities conclude with a bitter-sweet farewell dance around the Christmas tree...."
These are my kind of people!!!
Or you can just click on the title of this post and go to Sally's blog; she has links to all the above and much more.
p.s. Still working on those Christmas cards. My tree is still up (and much more decorated!) and yesterday on Prairie Home Companion G. K. said that in Sweden they celebrate Christmas season until January 13...I'll go along with that! :-)
For you skeptics out there -- here's a quote from a book review of Swedish Christmas: "....the Swedish Christmas season, beginning with the First of Advent in early December and continuing through to Hilarymas on January 13th, when the festivities conclude with a bitter-sweet farewell dance around the Christmas tree...."
These are my kind of people!!!
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Happy New Year!!?
Here it is, the end of the year... and I feel as though I ought to post something... If you click on the title above, you can hear Weekend America's "Trailer" for the new year -- that's something! I thought it was very creative.
I'm babysitting tonight. It seems like my life has come full circle: I used to babysit every New Year's Eve for years and years from the time I was about 12 or 13 or so until I was in my early 20's. But it isn't a bad thing -- I have always enjoyed the company of children and babies!! And a number of parents seem to like having me take care of their kids on occasion. So that works.
Let's see, what else... I'm reading an interesting book about the Silicon Valley and another about blogging, and I'm still working on getting those last few Christmas cards and gifts out. Lots of things planned didn't get done on this break, but I'm hoping that January won't be so crazy that I can't accomplish some of that in the coming weeks.
That's about all that's on my mind today. I'm not at the point of making "New Year's Resolutions" -- actually I've been reading about why not to do that! Here's a link -- let me know if it works!
Blessings to all in the New Year! And please drive carefully tonight, if you're out!
I'm babysitting tonight. It seems like my life has come full circle: I used to babysit every New Year's Eve for years and years from the time I was about 12 or 13 or so until I was in my early 20's. But it isn't a bad thing -- I have always enjoyed the company of children and babies!! And a number of parents seem to like having me take care of their kids on occasion. So that works.
Let's see, what else... I'm reading an interesting book about the Silicon Valley and another about blogging, and I'm still working on getting those last few Christmas cards and gifts out. Lots of things planned didn't get done on this break, but I'm hoping that January won't be so crazy that I can't accomplish some of that in the coming weeks.
That's about all that's on my mind today. I'm not at the point of making "New Year's Resolutions" -- actually I've been reading about why not to do that! Here's a link -- let me know if it works!
Blessings to all in the New Year! And please drive carefully tonight, if you're out!
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Random thoughts and news
The Christmas break is zooming by... I wish it would last a few more weeks!! On the other hand, work has been more sparse than I expected, so I guess it is about the right length. :-)
I need to start back with my Pilates routines... I picked up a new book Tuesday, Pilates for Every Body by Denise Austin, that has several routines in it which I can vary according to my mood. It boasts "...[A] Complete 3-Week Body Makeover". I'm ready!! My body's ready!!!
John, Brenda, Meredith, Daniel, Caleb, and Timothy were here yesterday, first time they have visited in quite awhile. We had a good time, though too short. They left during a thunderstorm. (A thunderstorm in January?!) I totally forgot to take any photos -- oops! Hopefully there will be another opportunity before too long.
Veggie Revolution update: There was a great article in the Observer about the book on Sunday. (Click here to read it.) Also, Sally and Sarah Kate have a bunch of signings lined up, the first of which was last night, at Joseph-Beth Booksellers. (I wonder how it went?) The complete list can also be found at the link above.
I've got to get my Christmas cards done... but at least this year I made a big dent in the list before Christmas. I got a response already from one -- Father John called Tuesday night! It was such a kick to talk with him after all these years! He is doing fine, and he said he would love to have visitors. (I'm beginning to think I ought to drive out to CA this summer, instead of flying...)
A random thought from yesterday: I wish movie-rental stores would categorize and display their movies using the same categories as bookstores. In particular, I wish they'd put biographies in their own category. (I was thinking about a movie about T.S. Eliot that I would like to see, but I don't remember the name of it...it would be easy to find if they just had the biographies together!! Come to think of it, the library probably has it...for free!)
Anybody else have random thoughts, news, etc., they'd like to share?
I need to start back with my Pilates routines... I picked up a new book Tuesday, Pilates for Every Body by Denise Austin, that has several routines in it which I can vary according to my mood. It boasts "...[A] Complete 3-Week Body Makeover". I'm ready!! My body's ready!!!
John, Brenda, Meredith, Daniel, Caleb, and Timothy were here yesterday, first time they have visited in quite awhile. We had a good time, though too short. They left during a thunderstorm. (A thunderstorm in January?!) I totally forgot to take any photos -- oops! Hopefully there will be another opportunity before too long.
Veggie Revolution update: There was a great article in the Observer about the book on Sunday. (Click here to read it.) Also, Sally and Sarah Kate have a bunch of signings lined up, the first of which was last night, at Joseph-Beth Booksellers. (I wonder how it went?) The complete list can also be found at the link above.
I've got to get my Christmas cards done... but at least this year I made a big dent in the list before Christmas. I got a response already from one -- Father John called Tuesday night! It was such a kick to talk with him after all these years! He is doing fine, and he said he would love to have visitors. (I'm beginning to think I ought to drive out to CA this summer, instead of flying...)
A random thought from yesterday: I wish movie-rental stores would categorize and display their movies using the same categories as bookstores. In particular, I wish they'd put biographies in their own category. (I was thinking about a movie about T.S. Eliot that I would like to see, but I don't remember the name of it...it would be easy to find if they just had the biographies together!! Come to think of it, the library probably has it...for free!)
Anybody else have random thoughts, news, etc., they'd like to share?
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Advent --> Christmas transition
Well, it finally happened -- I started to get in the Christmas decorating mood! There is now a diminutive Christmas tree, complete with lights and two ornaments, in front of the fireplace!
I've been wanting to post but have not had a lot of extra time. Lots going on here: mostly a fairly full work schedule and today's Math Club Christmas party. This week work will be MUCH lighter, but Emily will be coming home very soon and John and Brenda et al. will be stopping by mid-week for a visit en route to visiting with Brenda's folks in Georgia so it's just as well if I'm not too tied up with students. I hope I can get this place in some sort of shape before then!!
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Franciscans in the news
Tuning in to NPR's Weekend Edition this morning, I caught the tail end of a story about the Franciscans of Assisi. So when I got home, I checked in on the computer to find out what the scoop was. You can click on the link in the title above to get the Washington Post version of the story, which was just one I found. (There wasn't anything about it in today's Observer; no surprise there.) In my search I also checked out the National Catholic Reporter online. It was the first time I had gone to this site, and I was pleasantly surprised at what they had to offer, although I didn't find reference to the Franciscan story I was looking for. Joan Chittester writes a regular column, I gather, and there were other well-known writers and apparently balanced reporting. I'll be inter4ested in what they have to say on this Franciscan issue. Maybe there's already something there and I just missed it...
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
winter weather
I woke up this morning to a pouring rain. I'm still living in my office so the downpour was happening right next to my bed. But now, it has mysteriously stopped. Or I have gone totally deaf. (Don't worry -- I know that isn't true because I can hear the tapping of my fingers on the keys and the wail of the train horn in the distance!)
There was some real winter weather up in Connecticut last week -- it snowed about four inches on Thanksgiving Day!! Susie and I shovelled half of her driveway while it was still snowing. It's one of those C-shaped ones, so we didn't have to do but half of it to enable the cars to get out, but now I really know how people can die of heart attacks while shovelling snow!! All in all, my trip up north was very much fun, and it was great to reconnect with old friends and make some new ones. Friendships that last through the years are something I am very grateful for.
Not much else to report, but I'm snowed under with work for a change. Next week won't be so heavy -- SAT's are this weekend so some students are finishing up with me this week.
I hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving!
There was some real winter weather up in Connecticut last week -- it snowed about four inches on Thanksgiving Day!! Susie and I shovelled half of her driveway while it was still snowing. It's one of those C-shaped ones, so we didn't have to do but half of it to enable the cars to get out, but now I really know how people can die of heart attacks while shovelling snow!! All in all, my trip up north was very much fun, and it was great to reconnect with old friends and make some new ones. Friendships that last through the years are something I am very grateful for.
Not much else to report, but I'm snowed under with work for a change. Next week won't be so heavy -- SAT's are this weekend so some students are finishing up with me this week.
I hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving!
Monday, November 21, 2005
interesting math problem from Duke contest
For those of you who read last night's post and are curious about what I consider an interesting math problem, here's one in particular that I liked. (I'm recording it from memory, so it may not be exactly the same as the one in Saturday's relay.)
Find n, the number of right triangles of integer side lengths (i.e., Pythagorean triples) that have a leg of length 45 units.
It got me to thinking (while I was driving, no less!) about the formulas for deriving Pythagorean triples... One of the kids at the contest said he thought it could be solved by setting 45^2 = c^2-b^2, factoring the right hand side of this, and finding the number of factors of 45^2 (that's easy, remember how?) to find the number of triangles. Maybe he's onto something, but I have another (though related) way that seems simpler to me. (Or maybe I'm just quite rusty on contest problems and there is an obvious answer...)
Find n, the number of right triangles of integer side lengths (i.e., Pythagorean triples) that have a leg of length 45 units.
It got me to thinking (while I was driving, no less!) about the formulas for deriving Pythagorean triples... One of the kids at the contest said he thought it could be solved by setting 45^2 = c^2-b^2, factoring the right hand side of this, and finding the number of factors of 45^2 (that's easy, remember how?) to find the number of triangles. Maybe he's onto something, but I have another (though related) way that seems simpler to me. (Or maybe I'm just quite rusty on contest problems and there is an obvious answer...)
Monday, November 07, 2005
Travels...
I know it's been awhile since I've posted, and you-all are about to give up on me.... I was in Atlanta, then in Virginia, then yesterday a day trip to Durham for the Duke Math Meet, with a few days in between to catch my breath. I sort of want to talk about all the various trips, but I don't have time to write all that right now, and probably won't until a week or two or three from now, with another five-day trip on the horizon. In the meantime I can just say it was all good. The most recent trip, the one yesterday, was interesting for a lot of reasons:
--the contest was really hard and had some interesting problems
--listening to the kids talk on the way up and back was enlightening
--I made a new friend and reconnected with some old ones
--and last but not least, I made a lot of progress with one of my more recent ideas, a plan to have a website or listserve or some other way for NC math coaches to communicate with one another over the internet. One of the many coaches I met yesterday (I introduced myself to every one that I could find, at lunchtime and other times) shared with me a very workable way to do this, so when I get back to town I will check it out. Today was too full of catching up with stuff around here, and tomorrow I'll be working most of the day. Oh, another thing I did today was go to hear the York County Choral Society's Fall Concert (Carmina Burana), which was conveniently right before Mass tonight in Rock Hill. It was an excellent concert; I don't think I've heard much better singing (it was close to Caltech quality, my gold standard!) The fellow who leads the singing at our Sunday evening liturgy was the baritone soloist, and he was awesome, as ever.
Well, that's about all for now... I guess I'll go off to bed. I'm almost finished with Sally's book, Veggie Revolution, and I recommend it even more now than I did below. (Click on the book's title to read my review -- I just wrote it, when I probably ought to have been sleeping! I hope it makes sense...)
--the contest was really hard and had some interesting problems
--listening to the kids talk on the way up and back was enlightening
--I made a new friend and reconnected with some old ones
--and last but not least, I made a lot of progress with one of my more recent ideas, a plan to have a website or listserve or some other way for NC math coaches to communicate with one another over the internet. One of the many coaches I met yesterday (I introduced myself to every one that I could find, at lunchtime and other times) shared with me a very workable way to do this, so when I get back to town I will check it out. Today was too full of catching up with stuff around here, and tomorrow I'll be working most of the day. Oh, another thing I did today was go to hear the York County Choral Society's Fall Concert (Carmina Burana), which was conveniently right before Mass tonight in Rock Hill. It was an excellent concert; I don't think I've heard much better singing (it was close to Caltech quality, my gold standard!) The fellow who leads the singing at our Sunday evening liturgy was the baritone soloist, and he was awesome, as ever.
Well, that's about all for now... I guess I'll go off to bed. I'm almost finished with Sally's book, Veggie Revolution, and I recommend it even more now than I did below. (Click on the book's title to read my review -- I just wrote it, when I probably ought to have been sleeping! I hope it makes sense...)
Math Power
Another quick note, in the "Breaking News" category: Patricia Clark Kenschaft's book, Math Power, has just been published in a revised edition. This is a very important book for me -- it says so much of what I believe about children/math/learning, and I wish every parent and teacher would read it!! Pat Kenschaft is a great writer with wide interests including a passion for math and for the environment, among other things. I met her serendipitously at the MAA/AMS Meeting in January 2005 after being a fan of hers for a number of years. She is a very warm and energetic individual with broad interests and a wealth of knowledge on so many topics. At the time I met her she was beginning to get a little discouraged about getting Math Power republished, but her efforts have finally come to fruition. I was delighted to be able to encourage her in these efforts, and to be of some small help in making the new edition for useful for homeschooling parents.
Please check out the book on Amazon.com -- there is a long excerpt from the introduction to the new edition. (And you might see the name of someone you know in there!) Request that your local library order the book, buy it for any parents of young children that you know, and/or do what you can to get the word out on this terrific resource.
Incidentally, Ms. Kenschaft has just finished with another book (on women and minorities in mathematics), and is working on yet another book project about math as well. I'll keep you posted on those...
Stop global warming!
Please click on the link above to find out more about this movement. They ask that we give them a list of folks to send the message out to, but I hesitate to give them e-mail addresses because I don't see on their privacy notice that they don't share them. So please go to this page and sign up if you are so inclined! At least read what is there -- it is vital information for all of us. The current administration is downplaying the seriousness of the situation so we must educate ourselves about this huge issue and take action on persoanl, local, national and global levels every time we see a way to do this.
I'll try to write more later -- the weekend was great!! We arrived back here at about 12:30 a.m. so I'm moving a little slowly this morning. Dan is off at Dilworth Coffee getting his morning started.
Blessings!
I'll try to write more later -- the weekend was great!! We arrived back here at about 12:30 a.m. so I'm moving a little slowly this morning. Dan is off at Dilworth Coffee getting his morning started.
Blessings!
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Oh boy oh boy oh boy!
I'm off to the airport to pick up Dan!! Then tomorrow off to his high school reunion, and visiting friends we haven't seen in awhile. It's been a long day, and I will try to write about it sometime soon, but with the upcoming travels I don't know when that could be...
Also, good news -- my work has picked up some! So I am not so worried about the immediate future....
In the meantime, Love to you all.
Also, good news -- my work has picked up some! So I am not so worried about the immediate future....
In the meantime, Love to you all.
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Context -- please read this before reading backwards
Somehow I think I've gotten over a hump of some sort. I went back this morning and edited and posted some old posts, one of which I never posted or posted only briefly, and now I have split up and reposted ("Crabby Old Earthmama" and "Revisiting parenting...") and the other was posted but was way too long, so I split it up and reposted the pieces ("Yoga", "Anne Bradstreet..." and "Babysitting news...", which is still probably too long.) "Crabby Old Earthmama", in the September archives, details some of my feelings about posting my opinions, especially w.r.t. "Revisiting Parenting".
Maybe I'm getting over my fear of writing-for-other-people-to-read. [Hmmm... is that a good thing or a bad thing? And does anybody besides Emily read this stuff anyway?] In any case, I have to stop writing now and go work on other things.
Blessings to all!!
Maybe I'm getting over my fear of writing-for-other-people-to-read. [Hmmm... is that a good thing or a bad thing? And does anybody besides Emily read this stuff anyway?] In any case, I have to stop writing now and go work on other things.
Blessings to all!!
for you Veggies and especially you possible future Veggies out there...
My friend Sally Kneidel has written a new book (her 11th!) and it is about the rationale for being vegetarian. It includes recipes as well. I started reading it last night, and it is great!! I hope all of you reading this will pick up a copy and see what you think.
Sally is an excellent writer, and collaborated on this book with her daughter, Sarah Kate Kneidel. I haven't read much of it yet but even the introductory sections are quite fascinating.
One of the things I really like about this book is that its tone is not strident; Sarah Kate and Sally present the information in a matter of fact way and let the readers decide for themselves how to feel and what to do about the material.
Sally and Sarah Kate did a ton of research for this book. I can tell you first-hand that when Sally is working on a book, she takes her subject very seriously; it is never far from her mind. I had the pleasure of accompanying her on a trip to New Town Farms, which she writes about in the book. It was fascinating not just to see the farm and hear the farmer talk about his work but to see how Sally conducted the interview.
Reading this book is an experience like no other I've had... I can hear Sally's voice when I am reading the book, so it is more like being read to than reading, actually. And I love being read to!
I'll post more about the book later, when I've read further.
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