Well, dearest friends, I no longer have a facebook account. Truthfully, it's fairly liberating.
Two reasons: one, they removed some of the privacy settings I had set up were removed. I did not allow everyone to look at my profile page, same way I do not share everything with my friends face to face. Two, I was spending WAY way WAAAYYYY too much time on fb. It was becoming an obsession. Not healthy. It was an abusive relationship. And I was taking it. But I decided to take a stand. TAKE THAT.
But, I will miss sharing random links that I've enjoyed. Like this one.
Monday, February 06, 2012
[insert evil laughter]
When I was a sophomore in college, I took one of my favoritest classes ever. (Do note the use of the qualifier 'one'. I do have lots of favoritest classes. You could _almost_ say all but chemistry class fall into that category. But I digress.)
This class was called 'Appreciation of Nature'. It met once a week for several hours late Mondau afternoons. The lecture topics varied between bats to ants to fish to
hibernating bears. Our main assignment was to spot at least 75 different birds and record them.
I was skeptical this could happen, especially as it was winter. In Utah! Didn't all birds fly south for the winter? But before we were left to our own devices, we all went on a bird watching field trip. Egrets. Redwinged blackbirds. Finches. Sparrows! My only problem was I was using old opera glasses which come to find out were not quit powerful enough to see the detail described.
I remember being at the Logan temple parking lot, and seeing a Cedar waxwing in a the trees. The colors on the wing really do like drops of wax!
Later, on my mission in Florida, as my companion and I rode the bus, I happened to look out the window, and in the ditch I saw a pair of roseated spoonbills! That was cool. Really cool.
I even joined the Piedmont Bird club in NC. Part to beef up my instate tuition application, but mostly because I find birds fascinating. The one and only club meeting I was able to attend was a demonstration of the melodic nature of bird sings. I found it absolutely fascinating to witness how music and birds collided.
All this is to explain why I have the Audobon app on my super smart phone. I don't use it quite as much as I'd like, so last night while trying unsuccessfully to sleep, I started playing with it. A feature of the app is the inclusion of many examples of bird songs. I looked up cedar waxwing, and played it.
Max the Cat, who had been sleeping unawares, quickly perked up his head and looked directly at me and the phone, as the source of this noise. I may or may not have waited till he was asleep again to play more bird songs. hee hee.
Just now I was playing the song of a wren and he stalked up to me, nosing at the phone, hoping for a wee wren to pounce on. Alas. He has to content himself with the birdies out the window. Just now a sparrow came to the window well, probably just to taunt the kitty. Well, at least that's what I'd be doing if I were a sparrow. I probably wouldn't live long, either.
This class was called 'Appreciation of Nature'. It met once a week for several hours late Mondau afternoons. The lecture topics varied between bats to ants to fish to
hibernating bears. Our main assignment was to spot at least 75 different birds and record them.
I was skeptical this could happen, especially as it was winter. In Utah! Didn't all birds fly south for the winter? But before we were left to our own devices, we all went on a bird watching field trip. Egrets. Redwinged blackbirds. Finches. Sparrows! My only problem was I was using old opera glasses which come to find out were not quit powerful enough to see the detail described.
I remember being at the Logan temple parking lot, and seeing a Cedar waxwing in a the trees. The colors on the wing really do like drops of wax!
Later, on my mission in Florida, as my companion and I rode the bus, I happened to look out the window, and in the ditch I saw a pair of roseated spoonbills! That was cool. Really cool.
I even joined the Piedmont Bird club in NC. Part to beef up my instate tuition application, but mostly because I find birds fascinating. The one and only club meeting I was able to attend was a demonstration of the melodic nature of bird sings. I found it absolutely fascinating to witness how music and birds collided.
All this is to explain why I have the Audobon app on my super smart phone. I don't use it quite as much as I'd like, so last night while trying unsuccessfully to sleep, I started playing with it. A feature of the app is the inclusion of many examples of bird songs. I looked up cedar waxwing, and played it.
Max the Cat, who had been sleeping unawares, quickly perked up his head and looked directly at me and the phone, as the source of this noise. I may or may not have waited till he was asleep again to play more bird songs. hee hee.
Just now I was playing the song of a wren and he stalked up to me, nosing at the phone, hoping for a wee wren to pounce on. Alas. He has to content himself with the birdies out the window. Just now a sparrow came to the window well, probably just to taunt the kitty. Well, at least that's what I'd be doing if I were a sparrow. I probably wouldn't live long, either.
hmm...lame much?
I'm not quite sure what is going to make up today's post.
Today consisted of church - which overall was fine - napping and paying bills. I know. My life is SO thrilling. Be jealous.
Max at least thinks so. He is currently trying to burrow under a blankie. He likes to hide out in 'caves.' The problem is, I straightened up the front room, which consisted of folding the blankie back up and placing it over the arm of the couch. So only the top portion of the Cat is covered. He seems to be happy about that.
Ya, well let's hope that tomorrow turns out a better post.
Today consisted of church - which overall was fine - napping and paying bills. I know. My life is SO thrilling. Be jealous.
Max at least thinks so. He is currently trying to burrow under a blankie. He likes to hide out in 'caves.' The problem is, I straightened up the front room, which consisted of folding the blankie back up and placing it over the arm of the couch. So only the top portion of the Cat is covered. He seems to be happy about that.
Ya, well let's hope that tomorrow turns out a better post.
Saturday, February 04, 2012
success! (mostly)
Yesterday I receive a phone call from work at the University when I am an hour south teaching at the College. The caller was, well, calling on behalf of a visitor who was looking for a book that I currently have checked out. Apparently he needed one article in the book in preparation for his doctoral something or other. Comprehensives, prelims, what have you.
I explained that I was in College town, and he started to say, oh that's no problem then. I informed him I was about to head home to the University area and that I could try to get this chapter to him. I obtained the necessary contact info, verified the chapter info and headed home.
Upon arriving home, my short afternoon nap turned into a prolonged prebedtimenap. No real progress was made except that I did at least make visual confirmation in finding said book, and the article within.
Then I went to bed.
I woke up late sort of under the weather. Nothing terribly serious, but just enough to NOT want to head up to school to make a scan. But I had told this poor fellow I would. Dilemma!
I turned to my trust all powerful phone and found a document scanner. I took pictures of 25 pages which were fairly successfully transformed into readable pdfs. Neat! Success! Now just to pass this document on.
Two hours later, and after several exchanges of, there is only text in the email, separating the 25 pages into chunks of 13/12 pages each, and sending not at actual size, the required article is now in the digital hands of the intended.
It's pretty amazing I was able to lounge in bed taking pictures of pages, and have them transported to the fellow in need. We'll just forget the fact that I could've been up and back probably two times to school by the time the email was actually, successfully received. Consolation prize: I got to wear a much more relaxed dress code at home. :)
I explained that I was in College town, and he started to say, oh that's no problem then. I informed him I was about to head home to the University area and that I could try to get this chapter to him. I obtained the necessary contact info, verified the chapter info and headed home.
Upon arriving home, my short afternoon nap turned into a prolonged prebedtimenap. No real progress was made except that I did at least make visual confirmation in finding said book, and the article within.
Then I went to bed.
I woke up late sort of under the weather. Nothing terribly serious, but just enough to NOT want to head up to school to make a scan. But I had told this poor fellow I would. Dilemma!
I turned to my trust all powerful phone and found a document scanner. I took pictures of 25 pages which were fairly successfully transformed into readable pdfs. Neat! Success! Now just to pass this document on.
Two hours later, and after several exchanges of, there is only text in the email, separating the 25 pages into chunks of 13/12 pages each, and sending not at actual size, the required article is now in the digital hands of the intended.
It's pretty amazing I was able to lounge in bed taking pictures of pages, and have them transported to the fellow in need. We'll just forget the fact that I could've been up and back probably two times to school by the time the email was actually, successfully received. Consolation prize: I got to wear a much more relaxed dress code at home. :)
Friday, February 03, 2012
cat approved
As many of you know, I have a cat. His name is Max. Once upon a time he was featured in a regular Friday post called Find the Kitty. He achieved minor celebrity status, but has since faded from the public's conscious. It is my attempt to change that once again. At some point said feature will be restarted - after all, I have quite a number of pictures of Max the Cat on my phone alone. I am That Cool.
Along with being a Cat Lady, I also have several instruments of my own, some borrowed, and some are a part of the house in which I live. These various instruments have varying levels of approval from the Cat.
Oboe/EH: Highest level of cat Non-approval. I only need to start opening the case, and The Cat zooms far far away.
Mandolin/Guitar: If cat is already in the room at the time, he will tolerate a few strums. Maybe even a melody or two. But if there is any forward movement in his directions, off he goes. However, the guitar or mandolin does not require an escape to the basement. He is content with only being in the kitchen if I practice in the living room.
Suling/Penny Whistle: A suling is a recorder type instrument that is played in the gamelan. It is not very loud. Neither is the penny whistle. These are probably the most cat approved instruments I play. The approval level is a high as only glaring at me from across the room. I must only refrain from glaring back, or looking ad if I am going to head his direction while playing.
Piano: Previously at the same approval as oboe/eh, this instrument's cat approval has actually raised. No longer does Max zoom down to the basement, he now only requires a removal to the kitchen. Sometimes he will be found sulking on the stairs.
Even as I write this, the Cat is perched on a chair in the living room. My beautifully adjusted oboe sits next to me in my case ready to be practiced.
Well, he waited to move until I had the complete instrument out at least...progress!
Along with being a Cat Lady, I also have several instruments of my own, some borrowed, and some are a part of the house in which I live. These various instruments have varying levels of approval from the Cat.
Oboe/EH: Highest level of cat Non-approval. I only need to start opening the case, and The Cat zooms far far away.
Mandolin/Guitar: If cat is already in the room at the time, he will tolerate a few strums. Maybe even a melody or two. But if there is any forward movement in his directions, off he goes. However, the guitar or mandolin does not require an escape to the basement. He is content with only being in the kitchen if I practice in the living room.
Suling/Penny Whistle: A suling is a recorder type instrument that is played in the gamelan. It is not very loud. Neither is the penny whistle. These are probably the most cat approved instruments I play. The approval level is a high as only glaring at me from across the room. I must only refrain from glaring back, or looking ad if I am going to head his direction while playing.
Piano: Previously at the same approval as oboe/eh, this instrument's cat approval has actually raised. No longer does Max zoom down to the basement, he now only requires a removal to the kitchen. Sometimes he will be found sulking on the stairs.
Even as I write this, the Cat is perched on a chair in the living room. My beautifully adjusted oboe sits next to me in my case ready to be practiced.
Well, he waited to move until I had the complete instrument out at least...progress!
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