Rain

When I walked out to our car today, it had been raining all night. The fallen fall leaves were all over the ground, creating mini dams and forcing the rainwaters to find another way to flow across the parking lot. I stepped in a mini lake of a puddle held in place by one of the leaf dams.

Good Samaratin

So today I had an odd experience with a good samaratin.

My Ryan and I were commuting to work together as we do most mornings (with him driving and me half asleep in the passenger seat) and driving congested traffic slow on the captiol beltway, a gentleman pulls up next to us on the left shoulder of the highway. GS rolls down his window and motions for Ryan to do the same. Then GS informs us that our rear tire is low and he just wanted us to know. GS said that it is not flat, but rather low and that we might want to inflate it when we get where we are going.

My first reaction was thankful. That could be dangerous and good for someone to let us know as we are unable to see our rear tire while driving our car on the highway.

My second reaction was thinking what a weird situation. Who is so bored in traffic or such a good person these days that they feel the need to pull up next to you on the shoulder while you are both inching along at about 5 or 10 mph and inform you that your tire is low. You would most likely notice it when you got out of your car at your destination.

Then I just wondered about how odd the entire situation was, but I guess anything to liven up the morning commute. So if you read blogs Mr. Good Samaratin on the Beltway who drives a white Jeep, Thanks! Thanks for the heads up on our tire and thanks for the excitement during the commute.

It's like a new years resolution....

... I keep thinking I will post more, but I never tell anyone so that no one will hold me accountable when I don't. Don't give me credit for that thought, I borrowed it. However I do enjoy the breif moments when I log in and blog a little something.

Today I am thinking about what I think about. I know it's a little twisted (maybe deep?) but just try it for one whole day. Take conscious note of all your thoughts. Are they positive or negative. Are they about concepts or people. You read that your thoughts are not a byproduct of your attitude as much as your attitude is a byproduct of your thoughts. You have more control over what you think about, so stop thinking about how bad today is and start thinking about how good it is going to get. I find it helps me to keep a smile on my face. Maybe it will work for yours?

Knitting

I have always been a half-crafter. I get all excited about making something crafty but somehow it ends up in the land of unfinished projects (somewhat like the land of lost toys?). My husband just sighs and rolls his eyes when I take on a new craft.

First it was the quilt, I made him go fabric shopping with me at 8 p.m. one night because I was going to make a quilt. I made about 8 squares and quit at that. It's sitting in the project basket.

Then my sister taught me to cross stitch. Tons of fun! I made 2 or three, and then quit after starting the 3rd. It got hard? It's also in the basket.

Then my mother re-taught me to crochet. That's fun! I made a blanket for my new nephew. I made a purse for my sister. I started a wrap and that's sitting in my car.

My sister came to visit and was knitting a blanket. It looked fun. She re-taught me to knit. the blanket is sitting about 1/4 finished in the project basket.

Now I want to learn to knit bigger things, and read patterns, and make sweaters or something. Will it happen? Who knows. I like to believe that I'll finish all of these projects and start many more. I like to think I'm crafty...

Parking Lot Carnivals

Let's start with an explanation... These are when the five or six flashing light rides and the twenty or so "win a stuffed toy" games come and take up residence in the K-Mart parking lot for a week or so. You pay a couple dollars to get in and you pay for tickets to ride rides and you pay for carnival food and you pay to play games to win a prize that you could have bought inside that K-Mart for less than you spent to win it.

Now this is something semi-new to me. I don't ever remember doing these as a kid. Since I've been older I have taken my brother-in-law to the fair (much the same concept but in a field rather than a parking lot) and I have seen these all over the place.

So last night, Ryan and I passed one of these fairs at about 9 at night, so we turned around and went. We ate a funnel cake (with only powdered sugar, none of that fruit stuff on my funnel cakes!) and we rode a ride. We got off of the ride laughing so hard and headed home. I guess it's a little odd that we did all that just for one ride, no prizes and a funnel cake. Sometimes you just have to be a kid again.

In case I've inspired you... http://members.aol.com/parklinks/carnivals.htm

Immigration Strike/ Protest/ What?

With the debate on immigration and illegal immigrants (aka undocumented aliens) and their right to citizenship in the united states, I just have one question... What?

I understand the debate, I see both sides, and here I sit in the middle somewhere not taking a strong stance to either side. However... that is not what I am wondering "what?" about. My question is if you are going to take a stand, can you just take one?

Let me detail. A few weeks back, all across america people marched in major cities to show that they did not agree with congress' discussion on sending all illegal immigrants back home. They wanted to show that immigrants are an important part of our country and that they need to be treated as people. Well to commentate from me, no argument there. Many people immigrate to this country every day for differing reasons and some do so illegally (or again, undocumented) as the process of immigrating is not an easy or inexpensive one. I am not making a judgement call on whether the people who have entered the united states without the "proper documentation" are right or wrong, instead I am just stating that it happens.

This march was very effective in getting the issue to the forefront of every news show, every newspaper and in the minds of everyone across the country. That is, everyone who is not worried about Tom Cruise and Katie (I'm sorry, Kate now?) Holmes starring in a movie together and will this effectively ruin their marriage. Therefore, they (who are they anyways? the organizers of the march?) decided to stage an immigrant strike. Prove to the americans that immigrants are important to the economy and that we can't send them back to their home countries. So May 1st, every immigrant (legal and illegal?) planned to not go to work, school, and not do any shopping. Thus showing everyone else that immigrants are important to society.

Now here comes the confusion, and I'm not talking about whether this is supported and which groups are telling people to do so and which are saying don't or if they gave congress enough time after the march to choose to escallate the protests, etc. Nope, none of that is my confusion. I am confused in that this is a country founded on immigration. Who are we talking about when we say that this is a protest by all immigrants. Unless you are a native american indian, I think you shouldn't be working, learning, or shopping today. I thought the debate was about illegal immigrants and whether we should offer them ways to get citizinship or whether the government should round them up and send them back to their home countries. I thought the people who immigrated legally were not up for discussion at this point. My understanding is that here in america we understand that we need these people to fill the jobs they are filling as we have given them a work visa to do so? Or maybe this issue has been confused by too many people wanting to utilize this platform to push an agenda. Even when those who planned this boycott (all of those, 3 or 4 major groups across the country) specifically said in today's news that is not the case and that they care most about the immigrants rights.

Blogs

I have had some "free time" at work and have been reading blogs from time to time. Just anyone's. No rhyme nor reason for the ones I pick, just that they are there...

I find it interesting to voyer into other's lives. I think I have said this before.

It makes me wonder who reads my blog. Anyone? Will I ever know. I wonder if some random person is reading my blog right now. And do they enjoy it?

I hope so. And if you are reading, I'll leave you with a thought... one of my favorite deep thoughts from Jack Handy... If you are ever robbing a bank and your pants suddenly fall down, I think it's okay to laugh. And to let the hostages laugh too. Because come on, life is funny.

Springing Spring

Spring came and went already this year. And it didn't stick around too long.

That's not true... It just cooled down.

So, with the advent of spring comes the flowers blooming. When was the last time you stopped and looked at the flowers. Admired the varying colors. Maybe even, although cliche, stopped to smell the flowers? I look up and see buds on the trees, look down and see sprouts poking out of the ground. And even my potted calalilly in my kitchen is starting to poke through the dirt again (I thought I may have killed it but kept watering the dirt anyway).

I am awaiting the first storm of the spring. Not a little sprinkle. I'm looking forward to a nice big thunderstorm. The kind that would have come with a tornado if I was in the midwest.

Assignment #4, Really: Adbusters

I guess I'll call this assignemnt 4 as well. I might have made up the number for my previous #4. . . However, here is today's assignement that I will write: "For your blog assignment #4 take a look at the website "Adbusters." Cruise through the site until you find something interesting--something about which you have an opinion or can take a stand. You might have to do some further research before you can come to some conclusions. Then in your blog tell us what you have to say, tell the whole world what to think about this issue. Use links to other sites to support your message."

When scanning the Adbusters site, I came across the article about Buy Nothing Day. Now I am not a big shopper, I just have never enjoyed stores very much as they are often crowded and usually I end up buying things I do not need. Also, I believe that consumerism is a problem in that we buy for the sake of buying. We watch commercials that make us want things, we go to the store and buy those things, however we never needed the things to begin with. I think it would be interesting to live without for a while. Not without the things we need, but without the things we want. These things including television, video games, computers -- maybe a vacation at Amish Acres. But I am getting a bit off of topic.

The idea of Buy Nothing Day is for people to take back control and not shop. For a whole day. Is it possible to do this? Especially around Christmas? I wonder if we would buy any gifts for our family and friends if we only bought someone a gift that we thought they needed. Would your brother get anything? I know I would be doing a lot less shopping for my husband's siblings. Not that I don't love them, but I don't think that they need anything. I think we buy them things to have bought them something.

Looking further into the ideas on Buy Nothing Day, I came across Buy Nothing Christmas. They ask "But wait. Without the plastic gifts, how will you show you care?" Then they have people post ways to show you care at Christmas without the buying of "plastic gifts." So many ideas were posted from giving to charity, buying things for those who are in need, giving homemade gifts, and just spending time with those you love.

If you type "Christmas Gifts" into Google's Search Engine, you get 33,900,000 hits, the first one being a website www.christmasgifts.com. Seriously? That is one way to ensure a non-personal gift. I went to this website and it offered me a list of everything that I can purchase in any category and then linked me to stores that sold each item. This alone states the problem of consumerism today. So look the site up, and even if buying nothing for Christmas is too much for you, do celebrate Buy Nothing Day on November 26 and go ahead and buy nothing that day.

Assignment #6: Word Games

I know, I have gotten out of order on the assignments. However, with no grade at stake, I feel that I am able to do these in any order I please. Assignment #6 states, "These are the top five word games at the Yahoo Games Site: Literati, Text Twist, Bookworm, Flip Words, Word Mojo Gold. Play at least 2 of them and then discuss whether these are time wasters or good practice/learning tools. Don't just give your opinion--support your opinion with facts (details!) from your experience."

Without taking the time to play these games today I am able to answer this assignement as I regularly play the word games both on Yahoo Games and on other sites. I feel that these games can be both learning tools and time wasters.

We'll begin with learning tools. These games assist in spelling, vocabulary, and the ability to do these quickly. I have become spoiled by Microsoft Office as it not only has the button for spell check, but also has auto-correct which will fix common words that I mistype or just have never learned to spell correctly (the i before e rule always catches me). Bookworm, in particular, is beneficial for vocabulary as it gives you the definition of the more uncommon words that you spell. Finally, these games are beneficial in the same way that Minesweeper is beneficial to those new to a computer. They help you learn computer usage, specifically mouse skills.

At the same time, however, these games can be time wasters. I could spend (and have) an afternoon just playing Bookworm or Text Twist. I could easily stay up 2 hours later than I should just to beat my high score. Like all video games, you can easily play for too long and therefore the game can be a time waster. I believe, however, that "wasting time" is an opinion. While I may feel that playing Text Twist for two hours was a waste of time, someone else may not feel the same if he has gained enjoyment and learned some new words in his two hours of playing Flip Words.

Assignment #4: Project Implicit

I know that I skipped Assignment #3, it is 1/2 done in my draft entries, so I am going to complete it later. This week's assignment sounded like fun, however, so I am going to do it first: "Go to the Project Implicit site and choose one of the demonstration tests there. Before beginning the test do a bit of writing about your opinion on the subject of the test you have chosen. Now take the test. What are your results? Is this what you expected? Why or why not? Do you have an urge to retake the test? What do you think that might mean?"

I chose to take the "Sexuality IAT" as this is a pressing issue in society. I am frustrated by those who choose to fear or hate something they do not know such as a person's sexuality. In generalizing that homosexuality is wrong or bad, people show their ignorance about homosexuality. In stating that it is incorrect by the bible, people are incorrect as the bible also describes how one man shall not judge another as God will be the judge. I believe that homosexuality is not a choice nor a lifestyle, but an inherent part of someone. Similar to my blonde hair, my attached earlobes, and whatever else is written in my DNA. Therefore, as this test claims to judge my subconscious, it will be interesting to see how it turns out.

After taking the test, my results are: "Your data suggest a strong automatic preference for Gay People compared to Straight People."

I am actually unsure what that means. I have a strong automatic preference for Gay People. I guess it must mean that I don't like Straight People as much. This result is what I expected, I do not have any adversity to Gay or Straight people, therefore the test results show this. My question becomes, how accurate is this test? I was interrupted while taking it, as I am currently in my office, and I did have to restart from an early point as I was called away. Did this effect my scores? I don't believe it did, as the test was different the second time. It seems to be a random grouping of the same words in order to keep you thinking subconsciously. However, how much of a role does your subconscious play when you are typing quickly? The rules were to push the left or right button as quickly as possible, so that is what I did. I have no idea whether I subconsciously thought about the picture of two brides together and considered at all before I clicked the button for "Gay." Or if I categorized good and bad with Gay and straight as they did in both orders.

I can say I do not have any urge to retake the test. This would mean that I am satisfied with my results. It is interesting, and I believe if my result would have been against gays, my conscience mind would have overridden and wanted to retake.

Assignment #2: The history of weblogs

"Your 2nd assigned blog entry begins by reading the essay on the history of “weblogs”/“blogs” at http://www.mikeanderson.biz/docs/blog.history.htm. How does what Ozawa says about the kind of commentary found in weblogs relate to anything you have ever written before?"

Ozwa's article informs the reader of the history of weblogs. Weblogs have been around since the founding of the internet, they are not a recent addition. Ozawa cites a definition of a weblog by Jorn Barger, Weblog Guru, "A weblog. . . is a webpage where a weblogger. . . 'logs' all the other webpages she finds interesting." This is not what I have traditionally found on "Blogger" sites. More commonly found are what Ozawa refers to as Web Journals, an online, public diary, such as this blog entitled "Hi! It's me!". The author utilizes this format to update the reader (whoever it may be) on the comings and goings of her life. This webjournal, not blog by Jorn Barger's definition, does not contain any links to websites that the author felt a desire to share or comment about. There are other sites that specifically host webjournals, such as Live Journal. This site invites the author to post a journal of their daily comings and goings without incorrectly utilizing the term "weblog" or "blog." I regularly read my friends webjournal entries in order to keep up on the comings and goings of those friends I may have otherwise lost contact with by now. An additional type of "blog," utilizing the term loosely, exists with the author utilizing the blog as a method of artistic expression. One specific example is PostSecret. This blog is an ongoing collection of postcards that have been sent anonymously with people's deepest secret written on them. The blog creator scans the postcards and places them as images on this site. This is not a blog in the sense of a log of websites, nor is it a web journal where the author tracks their day to day happenings. Whether you call it a weblog or webjournal, the use of these online postings show the desire people have to utilize the internet in order to share their thoughts, opinions, or daily life with whoever is willing to listen.

Assignment #1: A mini essay on me

Assignment #1: "Your first weblog posting should tell us something about you. Give us some background on your skills as a writer or a reader. Tell us what you like or dislike. Tell us about your college career, or what you'd wish you'd known before the semester started. Whatever you want to say is fine, but be sure to make it a cohesive whole--a nice "mini"-essay."

To tell about me is a story in and of itself. I am no longer in college, but am swimming in what we call the sea of life. I currently am working on many different projects, the most fun being with a business development team in e-commerce. Currently, the trends in the United States as well as around the world are toward shopping on-line, mainly for convenience. I currently do 90% of my own shopping on-line and love it!

Other interesting things about me include my domestic hobbies, I am currently crocheting a blanket for a friend of mine about to have a baby, embroidering pillows for the baby my brother is about to have, and hand stitching a quilt. These projects and regular baking are the "around the house" types of things I enjoy doing. It sounds as though I will make a wonderful grandmother some day.

I currently enjoy reading; I am in the middle of reading a book called "Destination Success." It is written by a gentleman who works as a Life Coach. I find it interesting to read books that encourage me to take stock of myself, my life, and my career. These types of books allow me to step out of my life, and look it over. They create questions in my mind of where I am in relation to where I would like to be. I have recently laid out goals for myself in the next 5 years and longer, and doing this has caused me to be more focused in my day to day activities.

And there you are -- me in a nutshell. As Austin Powers once said, "No, this is me in a nutshell... Help, I'm in a nutshell! How did I get into this really big nutshell? What kind of nut comes in a shell this size?"

My mother, the teacher

My mother is an english professor at the University of Akron. She utilizes blogging for her students to work on their writing and analytical thinking, and I actually wish that was an assignment in my english classes. Some students do not seem to be interested in the project, however. To test out her assignments, I am going to do them. One at a time, week by week, just like her students... Feel free to comment away!

My new assignment page: http://www3.uakron.edu/english/russ/weblog.html

New Orleans

I am sure many people are thinking about this topic right now. Here are a few of my thoughts, and I have no desire to offend anyone. If you don't like what I say, don't read. Please do not take advantage of my blog to air your anger at my opinion. Comments are fine, just don't tell me I'm mean or bad.

Now with that request in place, here are some things that have been running through my head this week with the disaster along the gulf coast. . .

I watched the news this morning, I have been kind of avoiding watching because the pictures make me sad. I read the paper and listen to the radio, however the images on television, and the people yelling and crying for someone to help them while a television reporter (who has a nice place to sleep and clean clothes and just came down to report) stands there with a camera. It is surreal to watch the footage, you can not believe that it is this close to you. It looks like it is a million miles away, a third world nation.

In reading the paper this morning, I saw a political cartoon that stated "No one debates the De-evolution of Man." The drawing showed man, then monkey, lizard, then a man with a stolen television on his shoulder and a bag of stolen goods in his hand. I chuckled. Then I thought how true that is. When people are in tough times or times of stress, their true forms come out. Do they help one another or do the fire shots at police and rescue personnel? Do they share what they have, even when it is very little, or do they loot jewelery stores?

Rainy Day

Rainy days are fun! I like to take walks in a nice warm spring rain. It is not so fun after, with the wet clothes and wet hair. It's dark today, and the weatherman says that there is an 80% chance I will need an umbrella. It has not rained yet. Just dark.

I remember being little, and when it would rain really hard the drainage ditches along our street would fill up with water and flood out into the street. My siblings and I would run out and play in this water. We would put on swimsuits or whatever and run around in the rain water. One time, a kid down the street had a boat and he was trying to boat in the water.

It seems a little dirty to me now, rain water in a drainage ditch. But when it is rainy, and there are puddles on the sidewalk, I sometimes step in them rather than around them. I always have the urge to splash a bit (like Calvin and Hobbs!) but I refrain because I have to wash my own laundry and muddy clothes are not always fun.

Water

How much water can a person drink in a day?

I like to drink water. Water is good for me. I sometimes wonder how much water you could drink in a day. Gallons? I wonder what would happen if you drank a gallon of water a day. How many people do not even drink 8 ounces of water a day? Are they healthy? Is the reason they are not healthy (if the case is that they are not healthy) because of the water? Should we all drink more? Do I drink enough?

Success

I have spent time thinking of what I want to do, who I want to be and where I want to go. I have come up with my idea of success. . .

I will be successful in life when everything I do is because I want to do it. I will measure my success as when there is no "have to" in my life, but only "choose to."

Now I ask that this not be misunderstood... I am talking about doing things and not talking about selfishness. However, I am picturing sleeping until I want to wake up. Working and volunteering at places because I choose to, not because I need the paycheck or the resume builder. Visiting my family and friends as often as I want (not avoiding visiting because I don't want to) and not worrying about details.

I had this realization while in the restroom at a DC United Soccer game. I realized I enjoy volunteering at those games because I choose to do so. I have no ulterior motive -- not the working towards a position there, not class credit, not money, and I actually look forward to going there. The crabby people do not bother me when I am there, I am able to smile a real smile (not one of those forced kind with the gritted teeth behind) and walk away.

I challenge everyone to determine their definition of success and figure out how to get there. I'm still working on my getting there, but one step at a time.

Chipmunk Nuts

It's funny how you can think you heard something different that what was said or sung. It is common to mis-hear, but why? Is it because we want to hear the different thing? Or is it because the art of speaking clearly has been lost over the centuries (if this art ever existed in anyone other than over dramatic actors). For instance, I have never been able to hear anything different than "never had another wang on my shoe" in a popular song. If you can't live without knowing, the real line is "walking 'round with little wings on my shoes." I know. It's nothing the same. Now how did I come up with the line I hear? It could be psychological, that I wanted to hear about a wang on a shoe. It could be a hearing problem I have or that I don't listen properly. I could blame the singer and state he should enunciate properly.

Arizona

We spent the weekend in Arizona. It was fun. It was hot. It is always good to be home. We got to see the family, fun. We also saw the desert and the mountains. I have to wonder what the area looked like before Phoenix existed. The flat desert with the mountains rising out at random intervals. It must have been beautiful.