Category Archives: School

7 Quick Takes: Total Eclipse of the Blog Edition

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7 Quick Takes

— 1 —

The eclipse here in the Pacific Northwest. I was honestly underwhelmed by it here in northern Washington. We were at 92% of totality here so I expected it to be darker — it was kind of dusky out but not amazing. I wasn’t outside though and my parents told me that it dropped about 10 degrees temperature-wise and the bees were completely still on the flowers the entire 2+ minutes.

I did watch it going over Jackson Hole, Wyoming on TV and that was pretty amazing, especially seeing the sun’s rays hitting Grand Teton as the moon was done passing by.

— 2 —

Neighbors in Faith. Last night, I attended a presentation on Islam by Pastor Terry Kyllo of Neighbors in Faith. Pastor Terry used to be one of the clergy that rotated through my Episcopal church when they were part of a Lutheran-Episcopal cluster so I knew him. It was a wonderful presentation and I wanted to share the following resources with y’all.

Islam Fact Check
The Islamophobia Network
An Open Letter to Al-Baghdadi
A Common Word (includes reading lists!)
A Journalist’s Manual: Field Guide to Anti-Muslim Extremists

— 3 —

Seriously?!?!? Here’s a map of the most hated food in each state. I can understand hating some things like Chick-Fil-A or mayonnaise on fries but there are people out there that hate pesto?!?!?!? (The store-bought stuff is nasty but the homemade stuff is AWESOME.)

— 4 —

Cat therapy for autistic kids. This might explain why my kiddo is a social butterfly. (She also absolutely loves the videos she has seen of Iris and her Maine Coon kitty Thula.)

— 5 —

Because heros! My college friend Becca is on a blog tour promoting her latest release. Here is a guest post on her top 10 favorite heros/heroines.

— 6 —

This is true for me. Apparently, you commit things to memory more effectively when you write them by hand. This is why I did better on quizzes this summer when I wrote down notes by hand instead of just reading.

— 7 —

Whyyyyyyyyyyy???????? I’m really grumping about the Type 2 Diabetes diagnosis when I get news like this.

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: August 20, 2017

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For Today… August 20, 2017

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… dark. It was in the high 70’s today. We’ve got 92% of the sun obscured up here so it should be interesting tomorrow.

I am thinking… about the political situation in this country.

I am thankful… that many people clicked on the links I shared in my Quick Takes this past week. I know not everyone agrees with my viewpoint on this blog, so I was really thankful that people did read what I shared.

One of my favorite things… lamb gyros. I just found a local source so I’m really happy.

I am wearing… jammies. Church clothes were a black patterned top, black slacks, my black cardigan, and black flats. Regular clothes were my blue-green fitted tee and black capris.

I am creating… notes on my Business English book. Woo.

I am watching… the news.

I am hoping… the next 2.5 weeks until kiddo goes back to school goes quickly. He’s chomping at the bit and he really does like having the scheduled time he has in the classroom.

I am learning… how my Sacred Ordinary Days planner works.

In my kitchen… pork roast, corn, potatoes, and salad for dinner with pie and ice cream for dessert.

In the school room… waiting for kiddo to get his school supply list in the mail.

Post Script… sharing this beautiful piece from Ann Voskamp.

Shared Quote…

Some words from JFK.

A moment from my day…

Some good advice.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: August 6, 2017

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For Today… August 6, 2017

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… dusk. The air still has a lot of forest fire smoke from British Columbia but it’s getting better.

I am thinking… about blood sugar issues.

I am thankful… my pharmacist refused to fill my Urgent Care doctor’s script for Glyburide. Apparently, people with a sulfa allergy shouldn’t have it and my Urgent Care doctor missed it!

One of my favorite things… all the things I’m not supposed to eat!

I am wearing… black fitted tee from Old Navy and jeans capris from Fred Meyer. I wore this with black flats for church and black flip-flops the rest of the day.

I am creating… this entry. 🙂

I am listening to… the sounds of the dryer and Daniel playing with his toys.

I am hoping… the kiddo goes down easily tonight. I don’t want a repeat of last night.

I am learning… about non-verbal communication.

In my kitchen… pork chops, potatoes, salad, and a peach-blueberry crumble with mountain huckleberry ice cream for dessert.

In the school room… kiddo goes back on September 6th.

Post Script… some levity for your week.

Shared Quote… “Hope is the virtue of a heart that doesn’t lock itself into darkness, that doesn’t dwell on the past, but is able to see a tomorrow.” — Pope Francis

A moment from my day… One of our hymns this morning:

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

7 Quick Takes: 17 Years of Blogging!

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7 Quick Takes

July 19th was my 17th blogiversary and it passed quietly because of school and things in my personal life. As a way of ignoring the crappy health news I got today, here are are some ways my life has changed since I started blogging on July 19, 2000.

— 1 —

I’ve come full-circle in terms of relationships. When I started this blog, I was dating Jon. Then we went through our long engagement, marriage, a short separation, and now divorce. It’s a painful realization in a lot of ways but it also provides me with a record of the good times that I can look back upon eventually.

— 2 —

I have lived in five states. I had spent my life in California and was living with my parents over the summer before my senior year of college. Since then, I have lived in: Ohio, Minnesota, Montana, California (again), and now Washington. I’m glad to have had these experiences in seeing how people across the country live.

— 3 —

I am no longer vegetarian. I added meat back into my diet in December 2000 and while I don’t eat a lot of it, I have not given it up again except for Lenten purposes.

— 4 —

I have stopped coding largely by hand. For the first year, I coded by hand and then went to Livejournal, two iterations of Greymatter, Movable Type, back to Greymatter, b2, and then WordPress 12ish years ago. It’s good to know how to do some of it still so I can fix sidebars but I’d have to learn PHP to be able to create my own themes.

— 5 —

I’m Episcopalian again. At the time I started blogging, I was attending my Episcopal church at home and then attending an evangelical church at school. Eventually, I attended an LCMS church, went ELCA for 10 years, AALC for three years, and then became Episcopalian again.

— 6 —

I have 1.5 degrees and am getting another one. I graduated with my B.A. 11 months after starting the blog, worked on an MTS, and am now doing an ATA.

— 7 —

I’m missing a body part or two. I gave up my gallbladder in 2005 and there is less liver than there was originally due to scar tissue from the gallbladder issues.

For more Quick Takes, visit Kelly at This Ain’t The Lyceum.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: August 1, 2017

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For Today… August 1, 2017

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… dark. It’s supposed to start getting hotter until temps peak in the high 80’s/low 90’s on Wednesday or Thursday. Oh freaking joy…

I am thinking… about my Interpersonal Communications homework that is due on Wednesday night. I have the second of two chapters left to read and then the quiz, the reports, and journals to complete. If I can get the reading done tomorrow, I can take the quiz and try to get the rest of the writing done tomorrow night, leaving me 24 hours before the due date in case of emergencies.

I am thankful… for this piece by Simcha Fisher. Many people have no idea what true poverty looks like and they need to check their privilege. Then again, most people who get cranky about this piece don’t give a rat’s butt about the idea of privilege so I guess I’m just preaching to the choir?

One of my favorite things… chewing ice. It’s a bad habit but a comforting one, having been through two abdominal surgeries and having a GI tract that gets cranky.

I am wearing… jammies. My Online Debate Team shirt (so many people on the Internet are wrong-headed) and black sweats.

I am creating… this post and one for my 17th blogging anniversary which was July 17th.

I am listening to…delta waves music on YouTube to try to get to sleep.

I am hoping… General John Kelly can get the White House and Trump administration in general under control. It’s been daily scandals since January 20th and the voters who elected 45 in November should be ashamed of how they’ve effed up the country.

I am learning… about emotion and language in communication.

In my kitchen… Chinese food from Haggen.

In the school room… Daniel is off until September. I need to get some dry-erase markers so he can practice his penmanship.

Post Script… I had no idea this existed!

Shared Quote… “Prudence means practical common sense, taking the trouble to think out what you are doing and what is likely to come of it.” — C.S. Lewis

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: July 26, 2017

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For Today… July 26, 2017

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… dark. It was sunny with temps in the upper 70’s today and was pretty uncomfortable to sit in the sun!

I am thinking… about culture and non-verbal communication.

I am thankful… for Senator Tammy Duckworth speaking out today on 45’s decision to bar transgendered soldiers from the military. I tend to listen to her over 45 because she’s actually *SERVED* (and in a war with which she disagreed) and she gave her legs and the use of one of her arms in combat.

In case you don’t know how awesome she is, watch this:

One of my favorite things… ice chips. I have a bad habit of chewing them.

I am wearing… jammies. I was wearing a black fitted tee and jeans earlier.

I am creating… this entry.

I am listening to… Daniel babbling.

I am hoping… my kiddo goes to sleep soon.

I am learning… about the self and communication. It’s fascinating stuff!

In my kitchen… Mom was making pesto earlier with basil from the garden.

In the school room… Daniel has 1 day of ESY left.

Post Script… this is pretty amazing. Concertgoers at Hyde Park in London gathered to see Green Day perform but grew so sick of waiting for them to get on stage that a mass singalong of “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen took place.

Shared Quote…

Why we should care

A moment from my day… Some songs from middle and high school that popped into my head.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: July 17, 2017

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For Today… July 17, 2017

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out my window… dark. It was nice and sunny today with temps in the mid 70’s. At the beach, it was lovely.

I am thinking… about the two journal entries, report, and quiz I have due on Wednesday night.

I am thankful… for time with a dear friend today.

One of my favorite things… walking in the water on the beach.

I am wearing… jammies. I was wearing my shirt from VBS this morning with jeans capris from Fred Meyer. In the afternoon, I was wearing swim suit pieces from L.L. Bean and Lands’ End.

I am creating… this blog post. 🙂

I am watching… COPS. It’s a guilty pleasure.

I am hoping… to get everything essential done tomorrow for my classes.

I am learning… about interpersonal communication and social media.

In my kitchen… Dad made shrimp pasta last night.

In the school room… Daniel is loving ESY.

Post Script… This is really worth watching!

Shared Quote…

True dat.

Hosted by The Simple Woman.