tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68129528653247423152012-01-24T12:05:25.386-06:00History, Power, Politics, Teaching, Critters, WhateverBellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.comBlogger6551100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-54139128638643198042012-01-24T10:34:00.000-06:002012-01-24T10:34:15.401-06:00

Returned home Sunday morning: floors horrifying, dust everywhere, middling chaos. Light fixtures in living and dining/book room have to be reinstalled by electrician. Spent Sunday cleaning. Bought one of these, and went over the living room hardwood floor 6-8 times before the clean water looked relatively like water vs mud. Then three coats of Mop-N-Glo on the living room floor. During drying

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-4670991582638570592012-01-17T08:03:00.000-06:002012-01-17T08:05:23.992-06:00

Greetings from Camp! Yes, I have abandoned both sanity and my sweet little house, and am currently adrift, living out of a suitcase at J's house. It's quite... odd. I note that houses are much quieter without three dogs or a cat. This house has but a single small dog, who is not nearly as social/needy as my own. Why the exile? Well.... they're bringing down the ceilings at my house. Once upon a

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-66524186248352077562012-01-11T18:08:00.000-06:002012-01-11T18:08:31.068-06:00

This is going to be an interesting term. My two World History classes are... big. My IR class is... okay. It's the interesting bit. I was/am a bit concerned in that one of the 'good' students is a devotee of Ron Paul. As in he spent his holiday break in Iowa, working for the Paul campaign. I anticipate that he's going to be rather hostile - which I tried hard to short-circuit by emphasizing that

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-85854046364338546712012-01-07T09:25:00.000-06:002012-01-07T09:25:33.715-06:00

The term of course. Did I get it all prepped? Don't be absurd. I got a good start, and woke this  morning semi-convinced I need to dump a text. It sounded so good, but on closer examination, and lots of conscience-wrestling, I just don't want to use it. What I like about the general approach is largely removed from this 'rethinking' text, which focuses mostly on trying to quantify and render

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-56298786023738800072012-01-01T17:47:00.002-06:002012-01-01T17:54:55.974-06:00

I miss memes.... 1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before? Came to an understanding of death. Went to The Big Berks. Went to Prague. Found an intellectual home. 2. Did you keep your 2011 resolutions, and will you make more this year? No, and no. 3. Did anyone close to you give birth? no. 4. Did anyone close to you die? Yes. Too many. 5. What countries did you visit? Canada,

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-5119864489581818802011-12-31T22:42:00.000-06:002011-12-31T22:42:38.642-06:00

Too many deaths: Mom, E, F, A, A, F. Lots of introspection. Lots of personal exploration, questions, pain. Joy, delight, relief. Happiness, guilt, loneliness, emptiness, satisfaction, pleasure. A year of life in all its glory and grief, excitement and boredom. To the new year: goals to be achieved, obstacles to be met and overcome, muscles to stretch. Books to read, and to write. More painting,

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-40369671375588632172011-12-30T17:46:00.001-06:002011-12-30T17:48:01.094-06:00

We've all endured the bad ones. Here's a good one: Chill two bottles of champagne. Have excellent chocolates on hand. Ensure all members enjoy both. Goodies only come out when meeting is adjourned. Business part of meeting lively, animated and on task. Conduct meeting. Adjourn meeting Open champagne. Eat chocolate. More than an hour of congenial discussions, with all conversations of the 'what

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-30847675237670315992011-12-28T17:53:00.000-06:002011-12-28T17:53:25.982-06:00

It's kinda weird. It's late December, and it's 60+ out there. Sunny, warm, gorgeous. And I have a damned cold. At least, I'm hoping it's only a cold. It's made the last two days less than wonderful. See, yesterday the guys started to redo the ceiling in the bathroom. Previous owners had a leak, which did damage to the ceiling. They covered the damage with wallpaper; I took the paper down when I

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-45873690243334825222011-12-25T08:15:00.000-06:002011-12-25T08:15:39.191-06:00

Try as I might to make up something new, this is still my favorite carol. On the twelfth day of Christmas my true friend gave to me Timber wolves a-howling, Eleven songbirds singing, Ten eagles soaring, Nine lady bugs, Eight tiger sharks, Seven strip-ed zebra, Six crocodiles, Fine golden finch, Free elephants, Three cardinals, Wild chimps a-romping and Red parrots in the jungle canopy! May

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-35198796933749069032011-12-22T15:08:00.000-06:002011-12-22T15:08:13.397-06:00

When my schedule permits (i.e. when there're no classes) I volunteer at a local food bank. It's an eye-opening experience: seeing what people can get by on, and what we, the privileged, think a family needs. What's astonished me most is seeing what gets donated to the regional food bank, which is then bought (yes, bought) to the local fbs that then get it to the people who need it. And I am

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-30259946511419969712011-12-19T19:01:00.000-06:002011-12-19T19:01:03.027-06:00

Grades are in. Voila! The PITA, to whom I was going to give a 'leave me alone and go away' D, got his well-deserved F. My chair, who'd flunked the same kid twice in the same class and given him a pity D- on the third attempt, had no patience with another pity D. Which made me feel much better - my chair will back my grade and that makes a difference. To make it all more complicated, the kid is

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-64603153410683032302011-12-15T11:57:00.000-06:002011-12-15T11:57:34.313-06:00

Virtually all of the bloggers I read are hip deep in grading right now, and I'm feeling like a slacker since I don't do exams or final papers that have to be slogged through so that grades can be crunched. I have three papers coming in tomorrow and pretty much know what they are going to  look like, and how that grade will turn out. No big surprises, I think. Hope. So I've been rethinking my

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-41382670051940467002011-12-10T17:20:00.000-06:002011-12-10T17:20:08.207-06:00

I have three papers to grade, and then I'm finished. And they're not due until Friday. Until then? Ahhh. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Except: Sunday: clean the fish tanks, clean, vacuum, mop the dining room floor (I just finished the living room floor, at it looks fabulous), laundry Monday: meet my new lawyer, do a will and living will, yoga Tuesday: take a friend to the doctor (she's not supposed to be

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-68663688924596459792011-12-07T20:29:00.000-06:002011-12-07T20:29:13.189-06:00

My Wednesday night class is finally finished! Hooray! While I love teaching the material, and the adult students, I hatehatehate teaching the class in the format and at night. This group was particularly hard, because there were a handful of students who never understood the whole group discussion format idea, and rarely if ever opened their mouths. Which will cost them, as participation is a

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-77445063368260501082011-12-04T10:09:00.000-06:002011-12-04T10:09:29.873-06:00

I got a call yesterday, asking for help in getting a chest of drawers from point D home to A. Off I went - into a new area for me. As in... well, it was about 12 miles from home, but felt like I was going to need my passport. On and on I drove, wondering if I'd missed my rendezvous point, wondering where in the world people in those housing areas worked that such a long drive wasn't a problem.

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-86945445678412250262011-12-03T09:46:00.000-06:002011-12-03T09:46:05.618-06:00

This was my last 'content' week for my World History class. The students did their last in-class presentations on Thursday, and I did a short debrief. My questions: do you think that the rubrics I use are an accurate reflection of your learning? How would you evidence your learning? Have you experienced any learning you've done in this class? What I was trying to get to was a critique of the

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-52551349636245839342011-11-27T20:00:00.000-06:002011-11-27T20:00:33.392-06:00

A long, lovely weekend. I actually slept until nearly 10 this morning - that is very, very rare. And it was lovely. Ever have a dream in which you are so tired you quite literally can't get your eyes open? In the dream? Very weird, but they are usually a sign that I need more sleep. So even as I'm sleeping, I'm thinking 'damn, it's one of those dreams....' But the whole day has been quite nice.

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-33205537177651819632011-11-25T10:34:00.001-06:002011-11-25T10:36:19.383-06:00

Well, I think I just finished my Black Friday shopping - online, in my pjs, with my second cup of coffee (oohh, with whipped cream...). Bought the household a new fake holiday tree. Supposedly, I could pick it up in 20 minutes should I so choose. I don't - the parking alone would be ugly. And that's at the Big Box Home Store. Color me cringed. My holiday dinner yesterday was lovely. As usual, I

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-54094010589857512822011-11-20T08:59:00.000-06:002011-11-20T08:59:19.567-06:00

A good week? Hardly. 1) I had to say goodbye to Amelia. Very personal, very hard. Lingering. Eighth death this year. 2) US politics got even more stupid. Lunatic. Ineffective. Disgusting. They are, however, reflecting our society: increasingly trivialized, appealing to the most base instincts, ahistoric and short-sighted. The so-called Super Committee is increasingly super-stuck because, it seems

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-3330259182903115432011-11-15T18:17:00.001-06:002011-11-15T18:24:25.902-06:00

I admit it. I'm a science nerd. I know very little 'real' science, but I watch the Nova and Scientific American series and love love love the stuff on physics: quarks, hadron collider, dark energy, dark matter, string theory, black holes - I watch that like non-historians watch the History Channel (that routinely presents awful ahistorical sensationalist tripe). I console myself that it's Nova/SA

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-42533325286717616952011-11-12T13:34:00.000-06:002011-11-12T13:34:06.157-06:00

My beautiful Amelia is gone. She died today, just before noon. I realized last night that it was time to let her go, as she couldn't get her feet under her, couldn't eat and had no idea what water was about. I held her for more than an hour, a full 55 minutes longer than she'd ever let me hold her before - she was simply too exhausted and disoriented to get up on her own. So she lay in my arms

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-48673976781112078942011-11-11T07:52:00.000-06:002011-11-11T07:52:42.855-06:00

I am a bit more than dismayed at the popular press - even my beloved NPR - going trivial on this date. For me, 11/11 has always been a somber remembrance of that horrific 4 year long nightmare that was the First World War. 11/11 means reflection, commemoration, respect. It jars to hear it as a chosen wedding date, a joke on All Songs Considered, yet another excuse for A Ginormous Sale!!! Then

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-87533716826582190472011-11-03T18:31:00.000-05:002011-11-03T18:31:07.702-05:00

Wednesdays are really ughly for me. Ugh-ly. I start at 9 with a class, and end at 9 in exhaustion. In between, there are hours of stuff that gets done, but three classes, spread out over that 12 hours - not my best stuff. Last night, the night class was good -  we had a good discussion of the current Eurozone crisis and the implications of Russian demographic decline. They had to read two

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-75464733752180071102011-10-29T08:37:00.000-05:002011-10-29T08:37:58.226-05:00

Experience with RNU's Honors program has always been... interesting. The Director of said program is also in my department, and served as Chair for the past two chair-terms (x years to a term). She is also a friend, a valued colleague, good person. So when she offers an Honors class, I usually take it. Always, always surprised. In my ever-optimistic mind, I imagine Honors students to be eager

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-34212373964401073122011-10-27T13:58:00.001-05:002011-10-28T18:09:06.905-05:00

Too funny not to share. Miss USA: Should Math be taught in school? It is a spoof, but the reality is not much better.

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-4938005373774580552011-10-25T09:30:00.000-05:002011-10-25T09:30:26.226-05:00

What would be the plural/collective word for a group of historians? I suggested murder. A colleague suggested gaggle or sheaf. I hit upon folio. I like that, but am wondering... what would you suggest?

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-37637193810634139712011-10-22T18:24:00.001-05:002011-10-24T10:42:53.029-05:00

Hmmm. Today was glorious here, so I took the bird cage outside into a sheltered-but-sunny corner. They seemingly loved it. I think. Because really, I think I almost maybe understand dog-pack behaviors. Birds? Not so much. I did go up and sit on the floor in B&N to read up on cockatiels, and they said that if you're playing with one bird and the other comes over and pecks at 1, it's not jealousy

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-14116048954248807622011-10-22T07:44:00.000-05:002011-10-22T07:44:54.901-05:00

Been a while, but that has more to do with an embarrassment of riches than anything else. I mean, yeah, I could post about teaching or history or Deep Thoughts or animals (the riches). But that seems so ... self absorbed. Deep Thoughts category for $100, Alex: Been reading 'in my (newly-discovered) field' journal, and came across an article on what he called CMT: which, as I remember it, is

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-76362020748709498472011-10-14T20:33:00.000-05:002011-10-14T20:33:18.293-05:00

Each year, our senior Dance majors produce a show of their own choreography. It's the Big Fall Show, and I try to attend each year. It is always, always amazing. The quality of the dancers? They are professionals by the time they graduate, but this show includes freshmen and (talented) walk-ons. This year's show was great, but there were several numbers that would have benefited from additional

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-39841207303977076272011-10-13T14:05:00.000-05:002011-10-13T14:05:00.712-05:00

This is, of course, DSK. If he isn't the poster boy for White-Male-Privilege-being-smug-when-his-right-to- assault-women is confirmed, I don't know who is! His lawyer says that since the charges have been dismissed because the statute of limitations has expired, he has been cleared. I dunno - to me, the whole thing stinks of cover-up and letting the bastard off. But I do not see how 'expiration

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-47238012680695851612011-10-08T17:29:00.001-05:002011-10-22T07:50:49.842-05:00

"I reject power and I will continue to reject it, and I will be leaving power in the coming days," he said."It's not because I crave power, I reject power and I will leave it in the coming days and leave it behind," Mr Saleh said."There are sincere men, whether they be military or civilian," who are capable of governing Yemen, he added. Say... wha??? He's in power - which he rejects? How can

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-32047176858079884642011-10-05T22:36:00.000-05:002011-10-05T22:36:08.195-05:00

Steve Jobs, creator, inspirer-in-chief at Apple, died today. That has hit me hard,  in a year that's already been notable for deaths for me. Odd that I feel so effected by this - it's not like I ever met the man. But I do have a relationship with his products and his company that is unlike any other. A story the other day (NPR?) noted that people don't just like their iPhones, their brains

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-11906042845916176662011-09-29T13:50:00.002-05:002011-09-29T14:20:03.668-05:00

I've been doing some long-overdue reading lately, and am disgruntled. It seems that Marxist critiques have been dismissed as 'disproven' because of the collapse of the Soviet Union and the 'socialist' countries of what used to be called Eastern Europe, and the extension of globalization in the 21st century. This astonishes me. No, I'm not mired in the right-wing political mess of contemporary

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-65659010492618339382011-09-23T20:01:00.001-05:002011-09-23T20:07:12.707-05:00

Still can't find the article on student behavior, so a question for the 'nets: How do students at your uni/college address faculty? Chez nous, the norm is 'Dr' for PhDs, and Professor for Masters & below. I was never comfortable with the Dr thing, so ask students to call me Prof. A rare few began to call me by a shortened version of my last name (Think Smitty vs Smith), which was annoying

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-74615010307589322992011-09-22T10:04:00.000-05:002011-09-22T10:04:25.400-05:00

Not too long ago, some delightful blogger posted a link to a site that talked about how students should behave in university. I thought it was in the Chronicle, but can't find it there. Anybody have a clue?

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-55879090247440274732011-09-20T18:30:00.000-05:002011-09-20T18:30:37.448-05:00

Tuesdays and Thursdays are, this fall, light days. I have a single class at 2:30, and it's the Gen Ed thing that I hate = World History. Not because of the topic, but because covering 4500 years of world history in 15 weeks is more than absurd. Most of the time, I handle the class well, and can work despite my dislike of the class and the messiness inherent in the project. But today? Oh, today

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-88083313929702337072011-09-17T19:32:00.000-05:002011-09-17T19:32:51.335-05:00

Holy mackrel, it's positively cloudy out there. And yesterday it rained off and on all day. Not enough to get us out of fire danger, but enough to draw many of us out of our houses and peer cautiously skyward. Wet stuff, falling from sky! Coooool. Even the air feels cool. Early in the wee hours, when I couldn't get back to sleep for squat, I wondered briefly if I were chilly. Could I really need

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-23249813265395604332011-09-13T18:42:00.000-05:002011-09-13T18:42:01.267-05:00

Ah yes, the smell of fall is in the air. Around here, that means that the heat has its own scent - dry dry dry. The breezes are more frequent, and the 100 degree + days are rare. By Thursday, we're to have a high of 62, after today's 103. But mostly, today, the office was permeated with the smell of my brain and temper steaming in the pot of assessment. I've been saving grading rubrics for years

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-25947687252851903562011-09-11T09:37:00.000-05:002011-09-11T09:37:25.030-05:00

Adopt, don't shop. Love, with abandon and complete freedom, knowing that it is unending. Be gentle, and love.

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-24842424836120530912011-09-08T21:11:00.001-05:002011-09-08T21:12:40.038-05:00

The other day, a friend asked if I could help one of her friends with a problem. Seems K (the friend's friend) was told by her professor to find some peer-reviewed articles and review them. But Idiot Professor didn't bother to tell K anything more. He expected K to already know (this sound familiar anyone?). And got pissy when she didn't. This is all very deja-vu-y to me, as that dismissive

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-56661179181055449052011-09-05T18:47:00.000-05:002011-09-05T18:47:04.879-05:00

We are all agog. Saturday was, as usual, over 100 degrees. We're over 50 days this year over 100, and it was just killer. Yes, was. Because yesterday was nearly as glorious as today! Yay! It was 72 at 1130 - I cannot tell you how delightful it is to be able to move about freely, to breathe without breaking into a sweat, to sit in my beautiful back garden and read during the day without risking

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-19532907634406675122011-08-31T11:47:00.000-05:002011-08-31T11:47:49.070-05:00

Reading this, found this: "'That the German working class movement, disoriented during the war, should have taken over the old state apparatus practically unchanged, was its grave historical error.' True enough. Not content with inviting the Trojan horse into the city, the men of Weimar watched over its construction and solicitously sheltered its designers."* This sounds to me all too familiar

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-30521255514349801752011-08-31T08:15:00.000-05:002011-08-31T08:15:24.470-05:00

Last spring, Star revised our departmental program, and took on sharing the Methods and Historiography class with me, instead of me doing it all. His approach is wildly different from mine, so I asked if I could sit in on some of his class to see how he's doing it, and how I might meld my stuff into his mold. Monday was my first sit-in, and it was fascinating. First, the content was startlingly

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-2875368865246936782011-08-26T20:29:00.000-05:002011-08-26T20:29:28.781-05:00

Not too bad. A couple of minor problems - a schedule that wouldn't open via an online link within the CMS, a web page that doesn't like IE, two students entering a class a week late. I actually have my first basketball player ever - they're usually advised to stay away from my classes, because I have no tolerance for unexcused absences and classroom antics of the sort they usually pull. Actually,

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-23811922902360118812011-08-20T10:41:00.000-05:002011-08-20T10:41:57.332-05:00

Enjoying my third large iced coffee, the brilliant (and scorching sun), and my last 'free' weekend. First, the thing I've been wanting to have for months is finally done - no, not the studio... although come to think of it, it's finally finished too. Nope. The doghouse is finished!! Yay! Isn't it lovely? Painted in the house colors/paint, it's made from salvaged drawers (hence the pulls) and

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-33689729809988787072011-08-17T14:19:00.003-05:002011-08-18T11:34:50.744-05:00

Once upon a time, there was a lovely boy. He came into my life, as he entered into everything: bouncing, exuberant, loving and with a very, very gentle touch. Over the years, we became great friends, always greeting each other with cries of joy, hugs and unconditional, unreserved love. As he aged, his attitude towards life never changed: patient, loving, generous, joyful. His hips basically

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-64829579324271678982011-08-12T15:16:00.001-05:002011-08-12T15:17:00.889-05:00

I did find the research my mom did into her family's history, and I cannot tell you how relieved I was to stumble on it. No wonder I couldn't find it - it was in a place I'd never have looked. I was doing something else and voila! There it was. Going through it, I found Mom's 8th grade diploma. Yep, they issued State of California, county Board of Education diplomas from the 8th grade. 1933. On

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-31176734409917312902011-08-10T20:55:00.000-05:002011-08-10T20:55:48.684-05:00

Because I'm soooo not ready for the week to be half over. Hump days are for work weeks; off weeks are supposed to feel longer, be more restful. Hah. Still no luck on the re-invention of the lower-to-upper level course. I did manage to write a two page syllabus - without any pertinent details on content. Two pages of info & requirements & mechanics, but nothing about what we're going to spend our

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-72260521186060267582011-08-08T21:16:00.002-05:002011-08-09T11:17:00.110-05:00

I've read others who've had problems with Blogger, and wondered how I'd been lucky enough to have had no problems... until today. I logged in from my blog, and ... was told to start a blog, as I didn't have one. But it was still there... I just didn't have one. That startled me, but I jiggered around a bit and voila! I found it. Weird. We're having a string of storms here, with high winds

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-40256789213225960442011-08-06T18:11:00.000-05:002011-08-06T18:11:30.108-05:00

Well, as others have noted, the question itself is problematic. Better in the material sense? Psychological? Professional? Security? Emotionally? Happiness? I can't speak to my father's life. He was a miserable person, as far as I knew. He had a family, which was what he was 'supposed' to have. And he supported them. To my eyes, that was all he did: he provided a material base for us. We had a

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-39152584056443414112011-08-06T11:28:00.000-05:002011-08-06T11:28:18.538-05:00

Lovely morning cup of coffee in my still-new backyard. Not cool, but not steaming weather. I'm tired of bitching about the heat. It is hot. Has been, will be. I'm dealing. The coffee was iced and delicious, the birds were singing, the dogs were happily sniffing around, making sure there were no intruders about. Lovely gentle way to start the day. I am now moving into the studio, and it's as

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-11460184228263617622011-08-02T16:10:00.000-05:002011-08-02T16:10:14.810-05:00

Done: Syllabi for all classes (4/4) Web pages for 3/4 classes created & posted. Schedules for all. Ditto. Pergola cover on (again). Reliable worker for yard/studio stuff found. Laundry. Dishwasher loaded & run. Dog to surgery (twice). And back, happy & bouncy. Devise a budget for post-mortgage & credit card debt life. To Do: Track down films for Honors Class. Read books for classes (5). Laundry

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-70374664526255163552011-07-31T09:51:00.000-05:002011-07-31T09:51:31.712-05:00

Turns out I've once again blown past my blogivesary. Hunh. 4 years at this space. Happy me, as this blog has proven to be a wonderful mechanism for my life. Y'all have helped me through some very rough times, and I thank you for sticking around. Way back - three weeks ago now - I was foolishly rushing to make a Berlin metro connection, and stumbled. Crashed. From my knees to my nose. Scrambled

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-73969619057160498592011-07-27T08:47:00.000-05:002011-07-27T08:47:22.650-05:00

Summer travel over. That is very good, as I am wiped out. The studio is still not finished. J is doing okay. F was buried Saturday, and was the focus of a full house at the funeral home. Family seems to be coping, but it's a very good thing that Son is hanging around.  Today, he's going to take me out to get a new TV (two, actually) and something called Roku that lets you use wireless and doesn't

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-644760886964136762011-07-21T20:14:00.000-05:002011-07-21T20:14:42.762-05:00

J's very sweet husband, F, died Tuesday night. We're all still in shock. They've been together for nearly 40 years, so it's going to be a huge adjustment for her.  Publicly she's very calm and together, despite the descending hordes of family in her small house. Her son, S, came home immediately and has been a big help - she told me last night how mature he's become, how he's stepped up and taken

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-80103641625583301422011-07-20T09:12:00.001-05:002011-07-20T09:20:01.791-05:00

You're all bored to tears with my remodeling stories, I know. But this is my space, and I'm going to use it my way =- ) The studio still isn't finished. Nope. The crew didn't show up on Saturday, as they'd promised, because they both had heat exhaustion. So they took the weekend off, and assured me they'd be here bright and early Monday morning. Which translated into about 10AM Tuesday, which

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-32023331070850444492011-07-19T06:49:00.000-05:002011-07-19T06:49:36.129-05:00

If you wade through the comments (depressing, but worth it), there's one by a cop suggesting that cops know these 'reasons.' I found myself cheering the obvious effort to mix genders in the examples, but still a bit uncomfortable with  what seemed a anti-woman bias. Is it just me being hypersensitive? (h/t Miss Cellania)

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-86858280935234709372011-07-16T17:01:00.000-05:002011-07-16T17:01:56.507-05:00

Ancestry.com, that is. I start something minor, and next thing I know, I'm cruising the net trying to find people, pictures.... Today's discoveries: a cousin who made it big in Ski Town, and a picture of same; his brother has apparently moved to Ski Town from where he'd lived for 50+ years. And a picture of a former bro-in-law, which prompted me to look for his mom, my ex MIL whom I adored.

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-14583121496806363602011-07-16T08:40:00.001-05:002011-07-21T20:19:45.832-05:00

If you knew my house and yard, you'd know that I tend to go for yellow flowers and yellow paint on the walls. For example, when I got my new camera I went out front and took these: This weekend (today, supposedly) the final work on the studio will be completed, which finishes the work on the house, studio and yard for the year. One of the outcomes of this is that all my craft/art $hit will

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-53837642434268752762011-07-15T12:06:00.000-05:002011-07-15T12:06:01.537-05:00

I wrote a while back (a few posts down) about my printer woes. I'm back, semi-coherent, and facing the issue. I went out and got a printer cartridge for the scanner/printer that won't print, because I think, maybe, the problem was that I'd tried to get away with cheapie cartridges and that was the problem. The manuf. cartridges are $25 each for the black, and the colored ones seem to work (even

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-31866718600713026972011-07-13T14:23:00.001-05:002011-07-13T14:24:02.303-05:00

Annoying: online check-in so-called services that demand info they won't give me. I am In Prague, it is raining like crazy, lots of thunder... And I can't get the blasted airline site to let me check in for my morning flight. Which matters because I fell the other day, major bruises on both knees and cannot abide the thought of middle/non-exit seating for umpteen hours. And the good seats will

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-50421271732329033852011-06-26T09:10:00.002-05:002011-06-26T09:10:52.938-05:00

Less than 24 hours before I leave for Cool Seminar Thingy in Distant Locales! Am I prepared? Oh hell no...

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-84389198621897370502011-06-24T12:37:00.000-05:002011-06-24T12:37:39.784-05:00

Years ago, I switched from bank checks to printing my own, which cost a lost less and was part of the software I was using. Then the software changed, and I had to buy a new piece to print checks, but that was okay, because it still saved me a buttload of cash to print my own. Then I switched to Mac, and the software wouldn't translate. So I kept my old PC around, just so that I could print my

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-56000240993987202272011-06-24T08:54:00.000-05:002011-06-24T08:54:57.910-05:00

Thanks to LibraryThing, I've just learned about flipbooks. I've always, always loved books - the feel of them, the smell of them, the very touch of paper, cardboard, ink. The way pages turn, bend - even break if you're not careful. So this, well, this is just cool. I think. Maybe. I know I want to hold one. See it for myself. Feel the heft (or lack thereof). Examine the print, the font, the

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-43267594157939701692011-06-20T14:31:00.000-05:002011-06-20T14:31:04.869-05:00

Apparently, as best I can reconstruct the event, I left my purse-yet-not-a-purse in the cart at the local home/garden center. This meant a hectic & harried few hours this morning as I searched high, low and in between (including fridge, on the off chance) for the damned thing. Called the last place I know I had it - the garden center. No luck. And then calling various card companies to cancel

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-77521049276259279762011-06-20T07:44:00.000-05:002011-06-20T07:44:55.594-05:00

I finished the insulation in the studio yesterday (before 8 AM, so show you how early I'm up these days), and took it easy the rest of the day. In fact, as I sit here looking at my wind-blown back yard, the only visible change from this time yesterday is the paint I slapped on the new garage door last night. I more or less to the day off yesterday. Putzed around inside, avoiding the blast-furnace

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-71605229204587891822011-06-18T16:37:00.001-05:002011-06-18T16:38:04.049-05:00

Over 100 today. Again. I was up & out early, to work on insulating the studio before HOT arrived. Even with a portable A/C, that kind of physical labor (up & down from floors, ladders, cutting, stapling, running between house, studio, garage) wiped me out by 9:30. Then I moved to the garage, where I cleared, cleaned and grunged until nearly noon. I swore I'd get the truck inside before the second

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-45425709973347911832011-06-17T16:33:00.000-05:002011-06-17T16:33:55.032-05:00

Calloo! Callay! Hip hip Hooray! The remodeling is finished! It started like this: Work began in back in March. The big stuff began in April. And now, mid June, c'est finis! And FAB. All that's left to do is add some finishing touches: a metal medallion out front, and some tiny touches in the back. Mostly though, it really is finished, and better than I'd hoped for. I'm thrilled. You like?

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-7108744440957805512011-06-10T11:55:00.000-05:002011-06-10T11:55:19.820-05:00

So far, so good. I think. I mean, I know I'm having a good time. The panels are amazing, the casual conversations intriguing. I do feel a bit out of my element, as everybody here knows so much more than I do about... everything. However, there is a lovely feeling of cooperation and welcome, and that's been fabulous. And the book exhibit is drool-worthy. I realized yesterday that what I thought I

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-90998152472435841662011-06-06T17:53:00.000-05:002011-06-06T17:53:59.377-05:00

Sheer, techie goodness.I only note things I really, really like. And these? I love 'em. Yes, they're expensive. Yes, they are a true luxury. Butomygod. If I'd had these years ago, the long flights to/from DSC wouldn't have been nearly as hellish, or as sleep-robbing. They are techie-magic. Star bought a pair of these, and said the only reason he with with SK was because he could get 10% off;

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-43080216050155260222011-06-05T15:24:00.000-05:002011-06-05T15:24:03.934-05:00

No, being debt-free hasn't sunk in yet.  Yes, I'm doing a bit of retail therapy, and it's fun and scary.  Yesterday I went to BigBox Store and got a bunch of stuff I only semi-needed.  Today, I returned one thing and bought two more.  Went to the Apple store and bought these and this.  Am headed to Berks this week (yay! so excited, my first time!!) and needed this as I love the other one I have,

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-84621999669946998812011-06-03T14:01:00.000-05:002011-06-03T14:01:34.744-05:00

I got the inheritance today. Real, live honest-to-goodness money. Not the promise, prospect or anticipation thereof, but the actual stuff. First thing? I paid off my mortgages. Credit cards. Student loans. As of this moment, I am (gulp, peer around cautiously and assure all attending deities that no hubris is present) debt free. I think, once it soaks in, it's going to be liberating. I know it's

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-35166735153495926312011-05-28T10:50:00.001-05:002011-05-30T09:25:49.392-05:00

By 9:30 this beautiful Saturday morning, I'd shoveled a bunch of dirt around, ditto sand, repositioned five heavy flagstones (big ones too), raked dirt & sand, planted two roses and 35 iris, laid 20 feet of brick pavers and had precisely one cup of coffee. I then quit, had breakfast and realized that I'd done enough for an entire day, yet still had most of it ahead of me. Only I'm too tired to

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-21025919449401816192011-05-26T08:04:00.002-05:002011-05-26T08:20:06.721-05:00

This is excellent news. Long overdue, yes. Frustratingly long process, complicated by determined resistance on the part of radical nationalists, oh yes. But finally, finally - Ratko Mladic has been arrested by Serbia. Imagine the teeth-gnashing going on inside (and out) of Serbia that the state he worked with and for has 'turned' against him. Imagine the old scars now being ripped open in the

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-56907843975476323762011-05-23T16:03:00.000-05:002011-05-23T16:03:54.862-05:00

I saw this, and then read the story Twisty notes.

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-69912053392343589812011-05-20T13:39:00.000-05:002011-05-20T13:39:20.180-05:00

Ya know, I never really gave much thought to that sentiment, until the last couple of years. Now? Now I'm in line, behind a few million others, armed with objects that will inflict the pain and suffering of those who've been caused pain and suffering by lawyers. And honestly, you can tell me all the familiar lines: they're power hungry, they're arrogant, they're oblivious - and it's not gonna get

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-6725377373531788322011-05-19T19:46:00.000-05:002011-05-19T19:46:01.832-05:00

Promise. I've been raging quietly about the DSK mess. I keep hearing it's about sexual relations, and every time I hear that, I scowl and growl: "It's not about sexual relations, it's about assault. Rape. Violence against a woman." I am stunned that Anne Sinclair, DSK's spouse, is 'standing by his side.' I remember her as a news anchor and woman to be admired - to see her sacrifice her own

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-14710987469951723302011-05-15T10:23:00.000-05:002011-05-15T10:23:36.551-05:00

I can't even remember what happened when. The electrician came back, the contractors were here even when they'd said they wouldn't be, the  new windows are all in (huge difference), the window exteriors have all been 'wrapped' thereby eliminating any need to scrape decaying wood, the new garage door has been ordered, I've begun working on the watering system for front and back flower beds, moved

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-89659108688467266732011-05-10T14:20:00.000-05:002011-05-10T14:20:09.713-05:00

Yay! Bits and pieces left, lots of trash to toss, but most of the work is done. They'll be here tomorrow to put in the new windows all 'round (yikes!). The electrician had to come back, as while they'd rewired the garage, they hadn't connected my work area to the new wiring. So no power on my workbench. Duh, need that guys. So he's out there now, correcting that. Habitat is coming by tomorrow to

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-62110485286338541742011-05-02T16:28:00.000-05:002011-05-02T16:28:49.364-05:00

Saturday, the crew was here until nearly 8PM. They got a $hitload done on the garage, and they're back today (it rained yesterday or they'd have been here then) to do more. It's quite astonishing, how fast they go when they don't have windows to deal with. On the other hand, given that speed, it's astonishing that they're aren't finished yet. Honestly, I thought they'd be done by noon - they work

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-66389390349258434402011-04-30T08:38:00.000-05:002011-04-30T08:38:24.874-05:00

The week, I mean. Because to tell you the truth? It was hard. A couple of weeks ago, Diva got the big annual teaching award, and that pissed me off. Most of my pissiness was plain, unadulterated jealousy. The rest was a vague feeling that I am underappreciated. The latter got a major boost on Tuesday, when Star got Honors Professor of the Year. Because he got the big annual teaching award last

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-72373803030443084722011-04-27T11:26:00.000-05:002011-04-27T11:26:56.081-05:00

Four dogs, a cat & a queen size bed.

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-43261316863572471262011-04-23T07:39:00.001-05:002011-04-23T17:41:28.827-05:00

It has been a long week. Hard to believe that just one week ago, all I had to show for my money and stress was a window hole in the wrong place. Yesterday, they finished installing the siding and canopy, so except for the painting, the exterior is done. Monday C told me we'd be finished by the end of today, but that's not going to happen: weather's going to delay the painting, and who knows what

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-28804297891320687762011-04-19T19:19:00.000-05:002011-04-19T19:19:07.945-05:00

I can hardly believe classes are over next week.  Next Friday (4/29) my classes are finished. Finis. I don't do finals (or even exams) so once Friday is gone, I'm done. All that's left is the crunching of numbers. Amazing.Most academics are just facing the horror of creating, administering a nd grading final exams. And really, I fell for you. Seriously. I'm so glad I figured out how not to do

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-28170521333874111322011-04-19T11:49:00.001-05:002011-04-19T18:39:13.552-05:00

How I do love this little gray 'bot; why so long without it?I do not know whatI was thinking, or not. It makes things so easyIt takes care of smellsMy little gray 'botSaves little gray cells. Yes it's expensiveOh no, it's not cheap!But it's easy to cleanAnd reduces my sweep! It took a few daysTo get the cats to useBut 10 days of bothAnd neither refuse. Oh little gray 'botTurn over that stuffHum

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-59478080378835666502011-04-18T18:01:00.001-05:002011-04-18T18:01:48.676-05:00

After a life-time of penny-pinching, having a fist-full of dollars has gone to my head. I have splurged on such outrageous purchases as five new windows, real siding, insulation (swoon), a Litter Robot, a patio (vs a mud hole), a studio, and clothes (an absurdly indulgent $300 - but I did get 7 items). It is now Monday early evening. I am the proud owner of the litter-bot, the patio, the studio,

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-11628480456592957872011-04-17T11:39:00.000-05:002011-04-17T11:39:56.176-05:00

For those of you who so kindly sympathized, I'd like to note that by Saturday afternoon (less than 24 hours after the alarm), the problems seem to have been resolved and all is well. I think. I'm working on a video clip that will walk y'all through the process, but for now, rest assured that the hole has been moved, the window installed, another hole created and plugged, and as I write this, the

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-52684534109258407992011-04-15T14:49:00.000-05:002011-04-15T14:49:59.331-05:00

Today's adventure started with an early call telling me that Iago was going to be late, as his crew was just getting out of bed. That 30 minutes after they were supposed to be on site. A later call from the site manager, saying they weren't working today because of high winds (totally understandable, and even welcome news) and possibility of rain. The wind, BTW, is gusting to 50mph, so I'm fine

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-76357676552034364142011-04-14T16:57:00.001-05:002011-04-14T16:59:47.482-05:00

Monday, the siding contractor told me we were weeks out on getting the job started. Tuesday, I came home to find the stack of siding stuff. Wednesday I came home to find more stuff, and my new windows. This morning (Thursday) I got my voice mail message telling me they were starting TODAY. I got the message as I was walking from the campus parking lot to my office. Freaked out. Dino1 offered to

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-36644599273393366642011-04-12T18:56:00.000-05:002011-04-12T18:56:33.238-05:00

One of the first things I did with the first cash from Mom's bequest was call the siding/window contractor, get him out so we could get thew contract signed, the down payment handed over and the windows ordered. Weeks ago now. He couldn't give me a tentative start date for various (good) reasons, and when I asked yesterday, said 'couple of weeks out, will let you know.' This is fine, because

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-23929150076242288002011-04-10T09:03:00.000-05:002011-04-10T09:03:21.298-05:00

Finally, things are starting to look like something other than a mess in progress. The studio is now painted: BeforeDuring: Removed raised weed-choked flower bed and four overgrown bushes; noticethe mud potential! AfterNew flagstone patio, new flower bed, flagstone path, studio building (finally painted). The shadestructure on the right will go away, replaced by an 11x11 pergola over one section

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-44169578089136558962011-04-05T21:43:00.001-05:002011-04-05T21:44:27.817-05:00

Pup came home! Not on his own, but the micro-chip got him back to me. He was found not 1/4 mile away from home, just minutes after he escaped. So, here's a bit of advice. Make sure your pets are chipped, and that you register the chips. Pay those fees - because those chips work.

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-69679062488773872142011-04-03T21:56:00.000-05:002011-04-03T21:56:26.195-05:00

This little guy is breaking my heart. I'm not convinced I need a fourth dog, but I am convinced he needs a good home. So until I can find him one, I'm keeping him. Or trying to; he's a fence climber. The day before I left for Montreal, he jumped the fence and took off. Worried and fretted for days, until BFF called to say he'd found his way home - by jumping back over the fence. So she took him

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-88988315166354932882011-04-02T07:29:00.001-05:002011-04-02T07:30:22.311-05:00

The BBC is reporting that over the past few days, perhaps as many as 14 people have died in protests over the 20 March burning of the Koran by self-described and apparently ordained Christian pastor Wayne Sapp of Florida. Sapp, of course, is denying any responsibility for prompting the protests or the resulting deaths. Again, the BBC: During his previous stint in the spotlight, surrounding his

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-46262680713201557662011-03-30T13:51:00.000-05:002011-03-30T13:51:09.002-05:00

I'm very happy. The landscapers just left, and have finished with their part of the backyard Grand Plan: Phase I. Now, I'm not gonna post the Phase I pics until it's all done - still weeks away - but I will show you what the landscapers have been working on. This is about 30% of the total new extension to the existing concrete patio. And the picture was taken on a gray, cloudy day - everybody

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-71312507057014385772011-03-28T16:59:00.002-05:002011-03-29T08:01:13.236-05:00

The patio man is piecing together the heavy jig saw puzzle that is my flagstone. I am thrilled, as it is gorgeous. I think the poor man is poorly paid for his superb craftsmanship: $3/sq ft. Over 300, so the contractor gets $900+ and will likely pay the craftsman piddly squat. I think I shall have to sneak the guy a nice tip, as his work is just wonderful. And he's doing backbreaking work. And

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-57379150142930173462011-03-26T11:02:00.000-05:002011-03-26T11:02:17.325-05:00

Sick. Allergies, a cold and yes, asthma (ACA). Deeee-light-ful. I went to bed last night before 9 as I felt like crap, was chilled, and couldn't keep my eyes open. Up at 6 to let the dogs out/in, back to bed... slept until nearly 9. Yet even after 12 hours, I feel like I did before I went to bed. Like crap, grumpier than hell and downright snarly. Excited. Since my return on Monday, I have:

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-16481890316996423672011-03-21T21:32:00.001-05:002011-03-21T21:33:43.569-05:00

When I left Montreal this morning, it was snowing. Sideways. Chicago was clear enough, and warm enough, that the guys on the tarmac were wearing short sleeves. Home in RNC it was 74. Yup. 74. We can still get freezes and even snow, not to mention the odd ice storm - but my trees are betting that's not gonna happen. While I was gone, they put on honest-to-good leaves. The lilacs are even starting

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-61629436611369324572011-03-18T18:36:00.001-05:002011-03-18T18:37:25.014-05:00

I am in Montreal, a lovely city. Sitting in the bar, after indulging in a pint plus of something called Rickard's Red. The silly girl round the bar has left, after some inane conversation: 'Any guy will have to go to Austria if he cares about me. After a few minutes, he will know how much I love The Sound of Music.... Will love singing it with me....' I kid you not. And the guy that was hitting

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812952865324742315.post-74666842856914959362011-03-14T16:14:00.000-05:002011-03-14T16:14:25.132-05:00

Ah, the joys of a playhouse. Mine was built today, and it took them less than 6 hours to build it. And it's lovely. No pictures until it's in place and painted. Suffice it to say that I'm thrilled and excited and only a tad bummed that I can't immediately move in. 'Twill come soon enough.

Bellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10849272391043604637noreply@blogger.com0