Playing nine pin

As the summer storms roll by this evening I am taken back in my memory by the thunder. Back to when I was a child and loved to learn about and read fables, folklore, and fairy tales.  One in particular stored itself deep in my brain and was awakened today after slumbering for many years.  

Don't worry my dear, don't let that thunder frighten you. It is only Henry Hudson playing nine pin in the mountains... Indeed it is.  I am not afraid.

http://americanfolklore.net/folklore/2010/07/henry_hudson_and_the_catskill.html

It's alive!!!!

Funny how a thing like assuring a butterfly makes it into the wild makes you feel like a champion. 

I bought this little dude last weekend at a farmer's market.  Today was the magical day that it emerged from it's chrysalis and was ready for the world.

Fly, be free! Live a wonderful life!  

Today is a very good day!

An old soul

I have always loved talking to older people. When I was a kid I would spend more time with adults than kids, especially when I was a teenager. I was always at my Uncle Hank's, the Falbos, or my Aunt Thelma's. I never had a problem talking to them. It was easy. I think that's why I didn't develop a lot of friends my age. I didn't know how to behave with them or act like them. 

It's kind of funny because even now when I meet older folks just about anywhere they usually strike up a conversation or I do and it's a good time. 

Now that I'm almost 50 I seem to be growing into myself.  Some of us are slower getting there than others.  I am really enjoying my life now.  I feel now like I did when I was with them - at peace, at ease, loving me for who I am.

I am so glad to have shaken off the BS from just a couple of years ago. I love everything I have and I am thankful for it. 

Let the search begin

I pride myself on how hard my Easter egg hunts are. If it takes over an hour, I have done my job as a good mom. No adult child should be given any breaks in the theater of egg hunting.  They will need all their senses for this one; all their land-nav   skills. This hunt is at night.

They've seen riddles so hard they needed to team up to find their eggs.  They had them hidden so creatively, we forgot where they were and discovered them months later.  This year will be the best yet.  We start at night and hunt til dawn or until we go to Eric's to eat THE BEST pizza in the universe. 

Let the games begin!!!! 

Maybe you need to think before committing to next semester

Open letter to all Indiana Public Universities from a humble student:

Thanks for your letter telling me how much I owe in student loans and how I should consider this debt before I sign up for another semester. Yes because not finishing my degree and working in the fast food industry is why I started down this road to begin with. I never meant to make my life better by earning more money after getting my degree, paying my student loans, and then living a great life. I have a letter I would like you to read.

Dear <name of senior administrator here>,

I have evaluated your costs and need you to seriously consider a significant flaw in your program before you take more money from young people trying to better themselves. I see that your graduation requirements requires me to take a wealth of courses that have absolutely nothing to do with my major. You make me pay for these "elective" courses. These courses make up about 50% of the cost. 

How about you eliminate those meaningless courses, save me some money, and teach me what I really need to know to be a successful graphic designer or analytical chemist who can provide true value as soon as I walk through my new employer's door. Skills that allow me to flourish so that I don't hear, "well, we really need you to have more experience performing these activities before we can hire you." Gee, how about partnering with local companies and giving us some real world experience? This helps us get true learning, college credits, and companies get cheap labor.

If you only require me to take courses I truly need, I will only be in college for 18 months, maybe 24 total. The cost is less, the skills are better, and I am an immediately productive member of society who can really support my family. 

Think about that before you force another chemistry student to take ceramics or a graphic design student to take stress management because there aren't any of the required major courses this semester. 

Sincerely yours,

A student who is tired of wasting her time and future money for loans on worthless college courses.

I love technology

Sitting at the airport waiting for Emmy. Then I think hey remember that episode of Starsky and Hutch where the chemist is mad at Hutch, poisons Starsky, and then the race is on for Hutch to find a cure in 24 hours? I do. 

Let's go on the Internet and see if it's out there. Amazon Prime...1976, season 1...episode 21 A Coffin for Starsky, BINGO. 

$1.99 and it's all mine. YAAASSS!

I used to pretend I was Starsky's daughter and I was the one poisoned while they raced to save me. It was quite dramatic.  If I'm bored tonight maybe I'll pretend that again. Starsky comes out of retirement to save me. No Ben Stiller; that was a damn tragedy. 

Ah, plane here. Until I get home. I love technology.

'Merica I love you

America I love thee how do I count the ways? After being away in Italy 3 of the last 5 weeks I realize more and more how much I do enjoy the USA. 

1. Ketchup

2. Red sauce on pasta

3. No air traffic controller strikes on Fridays

4. Two lane roads are really two lane roads.

5. Personal Space

6. No smoking in restaurants 

7. No smoking well everywhere

8. Food variety

9. Streets wide enough to drive on

10. American beef 

The great thing about being away is coming back. I enjoy working there, but I love working here and living here.