Julie VW

Stationery card

2011-04-29T11:55:00.001-05:00

Blue Crisscross Birth Announcement

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2010-03-10T09:04:00.000-06:00

I don't think I'd want to be an actual subatomic-particle physicist or a bona fide neurosurgeon. But I sure would like to be an abstract painter and art critic who's fluently bilingual, can comprehend the pages with the funny little symbols on them in the popular science books, is able to rattle off soliloquies by Shakespeare and quote from the Latin poems of Milton, and relaxes in the studio by plucking out a Rodrigo concerto on his Cordoba C10 Guitar.
Full Article

SPRING!

2010-03-07T09:21:00.002-06:00

Snow is melting! All last night we could hear it dripping off the roof. This makes me very happy.

Car Pooling

2010-01-06T08:12:00.000-06:00

My Beloved has been driving me to work this week.
Partly because he's on vacation
And partly because it's so cold (and his car has a spot in the warm garage!)

I like car pooling!
I like getting a hug just before I start work
I like the extra 15 minutes of time with him
I like not having to leave 15 minutes early to scrape ice off my car (and let it warm up).
I like not having to drive
And I like the car pool lane (which cuts the commute down by about a third!)
I also love My Beloved !

Ramona Quimby

2010-01-04T21:15:00.000-06:00

Ramona Quimby books were among my favorite in 2nd and 3rd grade.
Do you remember when Ramona wore her jammies to school? She got a BRAND NEW pair of pjs (not hand-me-downs from her sister) and wore them to bed. The next morning she was so snuggly happy that she decided to put her clothes on over her jammies and go to school. (Alas, when she got to school it was very uncomfortable - but that's not important to this story).

This morning it was COLD.
Super duper COLD.
And while I know that real clothes are warmer than pajamas, I really didn't want to take off my warm jammies and put on clothes. I wanted to put clothes on over the pajamas and go to work all warm and snuggly.

Alas, I am not Ramona.
And one can't wear pajamas to work.
But one can remember Ramona and smile!

2009-12-25T07:20:00.000-06:00

O what sweeter music can we bring
than a carol for to sing
the birth of this our heavenly king?
Awake the voice! Awake the king!

2009-11-28T10:03:00.006-06:00

Being a newly wed is a lot like adolesence.
I was a stubborn teenager - firecly fighting for my independence.
And then I got old, found a job, moved out . . . . and things got better.

EXCEPT . . . . I ran off and got married.
And I'm still stubborn, and still want to do things my way.
And My Beloved is almost as stubborn and set in his ways.
The struggles feel a lot like the arguments I had with my parents YEARS and YEARS ago.

PLUS this marriage-thing gives you get a whole new set of parents - - which requires navigating a whole new set of parent/child relationships. . . . only we aren't children.

sigh . . .. yes, I 'm tired and cranky.
Things will be better tomorrow.

No More Snow . . . pluh-eeze???

2009-02-26T19:11:00.002-06:00

I realize that Feb. 26 is probably a little too early to be wishing (asking/begging) for the end of snow storms. But a girl has to have hope!

Wouldn't it be lovely if this was the last snow of the season?
It doesn't even have to be warm - I'll take a snowless 33 degrees for a couple of weeks!
But I'm really tired of the snow and wish it would just go away!

Unnecessary

2009-02-25T09:47:00.002-06:00

Wedding planning is going slowly.
There are so many things I just don't care about
I just want to get married - not worry about ribbons for the favors!
But this piece was just the thing to brighten my day.
Excerpt posted here for my future reference/benefit!

Pretty much everything in the world is unnecessary. I'm tempted to say everything in this world is unnecessary, but I'll wait to the end to say that.

For starters, pork loin in a tomatillo & chipotle sauce is unnecessary. So are pine cones. Golf is unnecessary. Golf really is unnecessary. The accordian is unnecessary. Churches sitting on the edge of a hill overlooking a bay of water are unnecessary. Panes of glass reaching 20 feet into the air. Black and white photography. An Armani suit. An Ethiopian gold cross. Medieval chanting in Latin. All unnecessary.

You know what else is unnecessary? The 1662 Book of Common Prayer. It's nice, but not necessary. Not really. Seriously. We appreciate it. It helps us, but ultimately unnecessary. And priests? They're not necessary either--not to formalize a marriage vow. That only happened post Council of Trent.

The Celtic goose and the paisley design and a 10 Year-Old Tawny port are unnecessary. John Keble's poetry is unnecessary and he lived from 1792-1866, so he should know. China is definitely unnecessary--both kinds.

The cha-cha-cha is ridiculous. Nobody needs cha-cha-cha. Nobody would ever die if cha-cha-cha never existed. And I hate to say this, ladies, but chocolote is thoroughly unnecessary. Not milk, not white, not dark, not bitter, not any frufy kind of it, none of it. Deal with it.

All the flowers in this world are categorically unnecessary. They don't need us, we don't need them. I wish them gone.

Small talk is out. Trucks should never have been invented in the first place. And calligraphy is for people who can't handle the straight truth.

Glitter is for sissies.

And every single thing I've mentioned here is a part of our wedding. None of it is necessary, not a lick of it.

You may think I'm exaggerating but I'm not. I'm dead serious. You know the only thing we need to be wedded? It's this: I stand in front of Phaedra, she in front of me, and we say, "Do you want to get married? Yes." And we're married. That's it. Two people witness it and we're through. Worked for the first family east of Eden, works for us.

We don't need colors, we don't need fancy sounds, we don't need tasty foods, we don't need special movement, we don't need flowers that smell good. We don't need art. We don't.

And we don't need frolicking underwear.
That was bonus.

Read the Rest

French Fries

2009-02-21T09:04:00.004-06:00

My Beloved and I made (and then ate) these fries last night.
And they were yummy!
You should try it out RIGHT NOW

4 medium potatoes
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/4 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp dried marjoram
Salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray lightly with cooking spray. Cut the potatoes into long strips, about 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch on each side. Toss with olive oil. Add seasoning and toss again to coat.

Bake for 25-30 minutes, tossing several times during the cooking process. The fries are done when they are a light brown, cooked through and a bit crispy on the outside.

Sleep Makes us Civilising!

2009-02-20T12:02:00.004-06:00

If you find your working relationships deteriorate as the day wears on, take a nap. In a study yet to be published, Matt Walker from the University of California, Berkeley, and colleagues showed people pictures of faces expressing different emotions, including fear, anger, sadness and happiness, and asked them to rate how emotional they thought these faces were. They did this at midday and again at 6 pm. Participants were significantly more sensitive to angry and fearful faces at the second session. However, this change did not happen if volunteers were allowed a 90-minute lunchtime nap during which they managed to achieve REM sleep. What's more, these people also became more receptive to happy faces. Walker concludes that REM sleep refreshes our civilising emotional reactions. "Sleep is essentially changing the magnetic north of your emotional compass, in a good way," he says. Full Article

Quote of the Day

2009-02-10T08:05:00.001-06:00

"We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to ,ake us love one another"
- Jonathan Swift

Touch of Spring

2009-02-08T18:20:00.004-06:00

This weekend the temperatures (and wind chills!) were above freezing.
AND fresh ripe strawberries were on sale at the grocery store

I know this seems little and insignificant - but having lots of sunlight, and the "springy smell" of melting snow, and the juicy taste of fresh strawberries (in February!) make for a happy Julie.

There's still a long way to go until spring. But tody was a refreshing break from winter that made me happy!

And thus concludes this mundane tale.

Philosophical About Facebook

2009-01-24T08:42:00.003-06:00

I find it odd that people who wouldn't be my real life friend 20 years ago suddenly want to be my facebook friend now? I'm still the same dorky kid I was in 5th grade (except I live in a colder climate!)

Why Not Elope

2009-01-10T20:39:00.002-06:00

I have reached the point in the wedding planning process where eloping is really looking like a good idea. I'm trying to keep things simple and am very lucky that my mom and My Beloved's mom are pretty laid back in letting me do what I want. But the rest of the world (including people who don't even know me) are not shy about telling me everything that I ought to do (or telling other people what I should want!)

But I'm not going to whine. . . there are enough happy things going on to keep me from running off to Vegas with my beloved. And the people who matter are giving me help when I need it (and space when I don't!)

* I am so very happy to be marrying a man who inspires me, protects me, loves me, and sweeps me off my feet (literally and figuratively). He is someone who makes me so very happy, someone will tell me stories whenever I ask, someone who plays with The Kitty, and someone who can deal with Stubborn Julie! I am the luckiest kid in the universe!

* I am going to have some fabulous friends doing the ceremony music. It is looking like I'll have a flute, violin, cello trio playing some stuff together as well as some solo stuff with piano accompaniment. (And Pachabell Cannon / Jesu Joy are NOT on the list of music!)

* My sister made me a mixed tape of stress relieving songs (including the song "Shut up" and Headstrong as well as Don't Worry Be Happy!

* Finding a place for the ceremony was initially a challenge (the mega-church were I occasionally attend services is not the most wedding-friendly place - AND they require couples to attend group classes which are only offered once or twice a year and seem to be at the most inconvenient times!) HOWEVER, my parent's church is graciously allowing us to use their space (and for much cheaper than we could get anywhere else!)

* For several reasons (outlined in a seperate post) I am not going to a bridal store to find a pre-made dress (which will just require too much money and millions of alternations). Rather I found a nice dress pattern (and Dear "ole Dad helped me find a seamstress) who will make me a beautifully elegant dress. (It's a very pretty dress, and I'm happy that I don't have to have a crew of people dressing me, or hoisting up the skit when I need to use the bathroom!)

* The big day is less than five months away!

* I am so very lucky to have a sister-in-law who is a pastry chef. (I am going to have the yummiest bestest wedding cheesecake EVER!)

Random Factoid of the Moment

2008-10-21T12:33:00.001-05:00

Cows can sleep standing up, but they can only dream lying down.

Whales and dolphins have to swim and breathe as they sleep, so only one-half of their brains fall asleep at a time.

Read more about sleep here

Did Bach's Wife Compose his Best Stuff?

2008-10-06T11:02:00.001-05:00

An Australian researcher is claiming that he has convincing evidence that several of J.S. Bach's better-known works were, in fact, composed by his wife, Anna Magdalena. "Dr Jarvis has used forensic analysis to examine various Bach scores, bar by bar, focusing on the musical structure and language, handwriting and the musical calligraphy."
Full Article via ArtsJournal

Algebra

2008-10-03T15:33:00.003-05:00

Politicians and policymakers have fallen in love with the idea of eighth-grade algebra for all. Their ardor is not likely to cool off soon. California is moving toward making the course mandatory for eighth-graders, a shift Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) compared to President John F. Kennedy's pledge to put a man on the moon. Some see the flourishing eighth-grade algebra movement as a triumph for equity. Activist educator Robert Moses calls it "the new civil right." Full Article

I am one of the people who is not-so-sure about 8th grade algebra (having suffered through it at the hand of an incompetent teacher who will not be named).
With much help form my mom, a super summer class at the community college, and lots of tears, I was able to catch on before I started High School Algebra - but it was tough.

Years later, when I started to learn about child development, someone told me that often 8th graders are not developmentally ready to deal with Algebra (see Piaget and Formal Operational Stage).

I don't really have a point with all of this - except I wish I had better math teachers - and I wish I wasn't pushed into higher math just because I had learned "enough" arithmetic. That's all.

Julie's Anti-Heart Attack Plan

2008-09-12T14:30:00.003-05:00

University of Minnesota researchers recently found that over a 20-year-period, people who never owned a cat were 40 percent more likely to die of heart attacks than people who owned cats or who did so in the past.

Why mess around with low sodium ketchups and exercise when kitty can save me from a heart attack!?
Link

She was my student!!!

2008-08-28T22:33:00.002-05:00

When one of your former students gets a piece published on the CNN website - it's a big deal!
Check out Regina's piece while I try to bask in the reflected glory!

5 dangerous things you should let your kids do

2008-07-13T17:20:00.002-05:00

1. Play with fire
2. Own a pocket knife
3. Throw a spear
4. Deconstruct appliances
5. Break the digital millennium copyright act and/or drive a car
Watch the entire presentation here

Julie VW BA MA

2008-06-27T07:16:00.001-05:00

Ryan writes, "People who sign their name M.Ed. annoy me"
Me too.

Genetically Modified Chocolate?

2008-06-26T15:11:00.001-05:00

To save chocolate lovers from the agony of a potential candy bar shortage, McLean candy giant Mars is investing $10 million in a five-year project to develop cacao trees that fight drought, disease and poor harvests. Mars will announce today that it is partnering with IBM and the Department of Agriculture to sequence and analyze the entire cocoa genome.

Full Story

Wolves and Bears

2008-06-22T18:13:00.002-05:00

I spent the weekend in northern Minnesota at the International Wolf Center and the Vince Shutte Bear Sanctuary, pretending to be a National Geographic Photographer. You can see my Wolves and Bears slideshow over at flickr!

Thoughts on Church

2008-06-19T07:20:00.001-05:00

Earlier this month Barack Obama discussing his reasons for leaving his church, and then mentioned what he was looking for in his new church home . . .

My -- again what I want to do in church is I want to be able to take Michelle and my girls, sit in a pew quietly, hopefully get some nice music, some good reflection, praise God, thank Him for all of the blessings He has given our family, put some money in the collection plate, maybe afterwards go out and grab some brunch, have my girls go to Sunday school. That's what I am looking for."

And then, a few days later Stained Glass Confessional reviewed Lars and the Real Girl, and then commented on how it reflected the kind of church she wanted . . .

I wish I could assume that if I walked into church with a life-sized doll, no one would do anything but love me. I wish I could assume that if I took a life-sized doll shopping, someone would help me without giving me a funny look. I wish I could assume that if my best friend showed up with a life-sized sex doll, I would do nothing but love her.

Me? I have nothing profound to say.
Except I wish that good churches weren't so difficult to find.

Polyphonc Spree - Section 8 (Re-Lyriced)

2008-06-18T09:45:00.002-05:00

I miss my Solider boy
He's so far away
He makes my head spin around.

Listen to the Original Tune Here

Going to the Moon (kinda!)

2008-06-10T12:51:00.003-05:00

I am going to orbit around the moon (and you can too!)
NASA is collecting names to be placed onboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft. The deadline is June 27, 2008 for the submission of names. Sign up to go to the moon right here!

A Conductor That Doesn't Talk

2008-05-14T09:11:00.002-05:00

Asimo the robot made his conducting debut on a concert with Yo-yo Ma last night at the DSO. Read the full article here!
And here's the video!

Factoid of the Day

2008-04-30T09:33:00.001-05:00

Back in 1960, women teachers were paid 14.7 percent more than other women with similar educations. But that trend reversed, and by 2000, women teachers were being paid 13.2 percent less than their educational peers in other fields.

School systems used to rely on the fact that college-educated women had few career options open to them. But those discriminatory days are long gone, and salaries have been rising for both women and men in just about every profession—except classroom teaching.
Full Article

Keep the Violins Together

2008-04-28T09:15:00.002-05:00

What's the biggest issue facing classical music? It's not what kind of music to play. It's whether your orchestra conductor divides the violins.
Full Article
(Personally, I like it best when the violins are together. It's easier to hear, and catch bowings where you are sitting by the Concertmaster!)

Yo-yo Ma and the Robots

2008-04-24T09:29:00.000-05:00

Yo Yo Ma and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra will soon submit to a robotic overlord in the form of Honda's Asimo, which will pick up a baton to conduct the orchestra.
Full Story

Rachel Barton

2008-04-03T20:42:00.002-05:00

Violin people (and non-violin people too!) need to check out this article on Rachel Barton.
(I like the part where Itzhak Perlman yells at her for using the old wheelchair!)

Today is Arts Advocacy Day

2008-04-01T15:59:00.000-05:00

I wonder what the fine folks at Americans for the Arts were thinking when they scheduled National Arts Advocacy Day to conincide with April Fool's Day.

Find a Guy . . .

2008-03-29T17:14:00.005-05:00

Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot, who calls you back when you hang up on him, who will lie under the stars and listen to your heart beat, or will stay awake just to watch you sleep... wait for the boy who kisses your forehead, who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats, who holds your hand in front of his friends, who thinks you're just as pretty without makeup on. One who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares and how lucky his is to have you.... The one who turns to his friends and says, 'that's her.'

source

Countdown to April 5

2008-03-26T17:20:00.001-05:00

Worst Teachers Nomination

2008-03-13T09:07:00.002-05:00

There's this anti-teachers union group, who is sponsoring a "contest" to find the worst teachers. Then they're going to pay them to quit! Full Story . I would like to nominate Ms. Hernandaz, my sixth grade social studies teacher.
::shutter::
Many many awful memories.

Violinist Trips on Stage and Wrecks Stradivarius

2008-02-13T09:10:00.001-06:00

Leaving the stage at London's Barbican, violinist David Garrett, 26, one of the UK's foremost young concert performers, had an accident that every world-class musician must dread: he tripped and landed on his violin

"I was all packed up and ready to go when I slipped," Garrett told the Evening Standard. "People said it was as if I'd trodden on a banana skin. I fell down a flight of steps and on to the case. When I opened it, the violin was in pieces. I couldn't speak and I couldn't get up. I didn't even know if I was hurt – I didn't care. I've had that violin for eight years. It was like losing a friend."

Full story via Arts Journal

From The Writer's Almanac

2008-02-12T18:41:00.000-06:00

Today is the birthday of Abraham Lincoln. Here are some things that you may not have known about Lincoln: He was the first president to have a beard while in office. And he was the tallest president at six feet, four inches.

He was the first president to be photographed at his inauguration. And in the picture of his second inauguration you can see John Wilkes Booth standing near him.

Lincoln liked animals and he owned a cat, "Bob," a turkey, "Jack," and a dog, "Jib." On the night of his assassination, they found in Lincoln's pockets two pairs of glasses, an ivory and silver pocketknife, a linen handkerchief, a Confederate five-dollar bill, a gold watch fob, and a new leather wallet with a pencil inside of it.

Lincoln was the only president ever to receive a patent. It was for a device that lifted ships over shoals in the water.

He was known for keeping an untidy office and also for his loud and resonant laugh. He admired the works of Edgar Allan Poe, but when Lincoln saw that a campaign document had claimed that he spent his free time reading Plutarch, he began reading Lives.

Many thought that Lincoln was overindulgent as a father and he would let his youngest two boys run and play freely in the Presidential Office.

Great Moments in Blog History

2008-02-09T08:49:00.000-06:00

My site is the number 5 google result for memorable ending for eating peanut butter and jelly sandwhich

I'd say that cookies are a good and "memorable" ending to a PB&J sandwich
(I'd suggest homemade chocolate chip cookies!)

Quote

2008-02-08T07:13:00.000-06:00

In short, Meg, you should not expect your teachers to look at you once and simply see, in a brief glance, how bright you are. You should not expect them to unerringly spot your talents and know where they might lead you. Some will, and you will be grateful to them for the rest of your life. But others, sadly, can't tell, or don't much care, or are caught up in their own worries and resentments. Then again, the ones who stand in awe of your gifts are not the ones from whom you will ultimately learn the most. The best teachers will occasionally, perhaps more than occasionally, make you feel a bit stupid. From Letters to a Young Mathematician by Ian Stewart pg. 17

Morning Sibelius

2008-02-05T07:38:00.000-06:00

Miss Ryan mentioned the Sibelius Violin Concerto this morning.
I LOVE the Sibelius Violin Concerto. It can't be embeded, but you can listen/watch it right here

Creating a Marshmallow House

2008-02-02T09:05:00.000-06:00

A Short Story (with pictures!)

Once upon a time, my nephew came over to play at my house.

We built sculptures out of marshmallows and toothpicks.

Then we took pictures of our creations

The End
See photos here

How to Seem Smart

2008-02-01T08:09:00.000-06:00

* Develop a knowing smile. It works even better if you can get it with a bit of a twinkle in your eye and an appropriate hand gesture, like holding one knuckle thoughtfully to your lips, or gesturing with your thumb like Dana Carvey used to do during his George Bush Sr. impersonation.

* I thought about putting read a newspaper here—the 15 to 20 minutes a day you spend would be useful time—but you can frankly get just as much value by combining Jay Leno’s monologue with a dose of The Daily Show.

* Drink from a mug. It doesn’t matter what you’re drinking; you just plain look smarter if it’s a mug that you’re drinking it from. Cans are trashy, bottles (unless they’re water bottles!) are worse. For maximum effect, have a picture of some famous intellectual or a college logo on the side.

Read the complete list at I Thought a Think

Random Giraffe Trivia

2008-01-31T12:30:00.001-06:00

* Giraffes have to breathe slowly or they'll get windburn in their trachea.

* A giraffe can go without water for longer than a camel can

* Giraffes are one of the few mammals that can not swim at all

* Giraffes have no vocal cords

Pet Peeve of the Moment

2008-01-28T18:46:00.001-06:00

People who mark all of their emails "URGENT!" (even the non-urgent emails).
It just makes me want to ignore you when you do that!!

Song of the Moment

2008-01-25T10:24:00.000-06:00

Wishing You Were Mine by Ian Archer
(except I change the lyrics and replace "mine" with "HERE")

I am wishing you were, wishing you were, wishing you were HERE!
I've seen your face and I've caught your eye from time to time.
Can't think of a single way of keeping you from my mind.
I am wishing you were wishing you were wishing you were HERE!

listen to the song here

Skincare Dalek

2008-01-21T16:57:00.001-06:00

Blue Monday

2008-01-21T13:23:00.001-06:00

Today is the most depressing day of the year
(Just thought you might like to know!)
Sounds like an excuse to eat chocolate!

Home

2008-01-19T09:31:00.000-06:00

Phil is home!
(But only for 24 hours)
Today I listen to stories and eat fancy German Chocolate.
Tomorrow he leaves again.

Stupid Leader Meeting

2008-01-14T18:40:00.000-06:00

Every month, the Girl Scouts have what I lovingly call "The Stupid Leader Meeting."
("Stupid" can modify either "leader" or "meeting").

These meetings are required waste of time.
Things are repeated 3 or 4 times, they go over stuff that has already been said in emails or other meetings, and the people who get up and talk aren't prepared so it takes them a while to figure out what they're trying to say (meanwhile, they're begging/guilting people to take on additional volunteer jobs).

I shouldn't complain - The December meeting was cancelled and I got my co-leader to go to the November one. So it's not like it's not like I've had to suffer recently ::sigh:: BUT I'd much rather stay in my warm warm house wrapped in a blanket with The Kitty on my lap and watch a movie tonight.

Steph's Survey

2008-01-12T08:40:00.000-06:00

Steph has her start-of-year survey up.
I am not inclined to answer ALL of the questions - instead I'll just pick-n-choose the ones that seem interesting enough to me!

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory?
July 12 (a very very bad day)
November 4 (a very very good day)

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Paying off student loans

9. What was your biggest failure?
* Not being aggressive/assertive enough with my opinions on a work-project.
* Failure to proofread.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
cheese grater

14. Where did most of your money go?
debt and savings

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Becoming an official outdoor trainer for the local Girl Scout council.

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
London (from Songs of Innocence and Experience)- Bill Bolcom

17. Compared to this time last year, are you
i. happier or sadder? happier
ii. thinner or fatter? slightly thinner
iii. richer or poorer? richer (and not in debt!)

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Wish I'd gone to visit Phil at some point during his stay in Europe

22. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Perhaps I started to.

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Slings and Arrows. Numb3rs, Doctor Who

26. What was the best book you read?
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Redeeming Love

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The World Beloved (but I'm biased!)

28. What did you want and get?
a killer recipe for homemade English muffins

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
The Simpson's Movie

31. What did you do on your birthday?
My birthday was the night before that conference presentation - so I spent the day at the conference, and that night was spent reviewing my notes and being nervous.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
"Jacob Marely"

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
When to use "that" and when to use "which"
(If you can put a coman before it, use "which". If there's no coma, us that).

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
It's such a good feeling to know you're alive.
It's such a happy feeling: You're growing inside.
And when you wake up ready to say,
"I think I'll make a snappy new day."[snap snap]
It's such a good feeling, a very good feeling,
The feeling you know that we're friends.

Pun Fun

2008-01-12T08:36:00.001-06:00

Q: What does a copy editor do when she's not feeling well?
A: Calls inn [sic].

Excuse the Mess

2008-01-01T14:32:00.001-06:00

Playing with the template again -
Ugh

UPDATE - Professional Help is on the way - things should be looking pretty again soon!!!

2008-01-01T12:51:00.000-06:00

Via Mental multivitamin

Happy Birthday Steph!

2007-12-21T07:44:00.000-06:00

Happy Birthday to You
Happy Birthday to You
Happy Birthday dear Ste-eph.
Happy Birthday to you!

What can I say that hasn't already been said about Miss Steph?? (I've had a year, you think I'd come up with something new!!)

All I've got is that 'ya make me proud Kido!
When I grown up, I want to be as interesting and compassionate and creative as you are.
I hope you have a fabulous birthday, a super Christmas, a wonderful New Year, and a relaxing break.
(And if you haven't already - check your email!)

Why We Think Time Slows

2007-12-17T08:06:00.000-06:00

When a person is scared, a brain area called the amygdala becomes more active, laying down an extra set of memories that go along with those normally taken care of by other parts of the brain. In this way, frightening events are associated with richer and denser memories. And the more memory you have of an event, the longer you believe it took."

Full Article

Last of the Teddy Grahams

2007-12-13T12:54:00.001-06:00

This summer, the superduper cheap grocery store had Teddy Grahams on clearance for fifty cents a box.
I stocked up.
I really really really stocked up.

Five months later, and the last of the Teddy Grahams were eaten this afternoon.
I'm a little sad.
(And I think I might have gotten addicted)
How can a person not fall in love with tiny little graham crackers shaped like teddy bears?

Open Letter to Miss Ryan

2007-12-02T11:44:00.001-06:00

I know the doubts and uncertainty stuff is no fun for you to live through - but it *is* fun for me to watch. (Not that I enjoy watching you struggle - but I do like watching you grown up - and I'd say this is most definitely a "growing up" thing!)

Do you remember about this time last year - when you were contemplating Northwestern and I was encouraging you to go the liberal arts route? This is why.

It's cool that once upon a time you wanted to do music ed.
It's cool that you devoted yourself to it fully and chased that dream.
It's cool that you are changing your mind as new options become available.

You remind me of a line from the old Baz Luhrmann song - -
Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don't.

I'm glad that you've "resigned yourself" to just taking classes and learning stuff. College is all about trying new things - don't feel guilty for taking advantage of it! Everything you put into music is not wasted - it's made you the person you are and brought you to where you are today.
Major decisions (heehee a pun!) can wait until Fall 2008.
(And I promise your parents will love you, even if you don't get a music major. They might even love you if you went crazy and got a degree in something awful like accounting!)

Take Care Kido,
P.S. You were the first person to send me a Christmas Card (You Win!)
P.P.S. Someone from work went to your Christmas concert and reported back that it was fabulous! (Good Job!)

Top 100 Living Geniuses

2007-10-30T08:50:00.000-05:00

This is an interesting list - I'm surprised at some of the people on it. I love that Matt Groening out ranked Steven Hawking (and that Osama Bin Laden, Bill Gates, and Mohammed Ali are all tied for 43rd place!!)
Full List via ArtsJournal

Carnival of the Animals

2007-10-25T08:09:00.001-05:00

This morning's ear worm is Carnival of the Animals.
(I love this video - they're having so much fun!)

YES

2007-10-24T11:12:00.000-05:00

Am I the only one who has noticed that the program notes provided to concert goers are, in the main, so badly written as to be embarrassing? To be a program annotator, it seems, one must have passed a course in turgid prose and have demonstrated proficiency in windy, circuitous, elliptical writing. Thirty five years ago, when I was a college undergraduate, I remember complaining to a professor that the program notes regularly provided by the National Symphony Orchestra to the Kennedy Center faithful were appallingly bad. "They are, to paraphrase Anna Russell," he sighed, "written by great experts to impress -- and for the edification of -- other great experts." Not much has changed.

Full Editorial

The Library of Congress is Missing!

2007-10-24T11:03:00.000-05:00

An investigation has revealed that 13% of the Library of Congress's collection of books and periodicals cannot be located at the present time. "Officials at the library say they believe most of the missing materials are misplaced, not stolen or lost." Still, the revelation is being called "deeply troubling" by those in charge of the nation's primary print archive.
Full Article via ArtsJournal

For the VW Siblings

2007-10-18T14:04:00.000-05:00

Once upon a time, the VW family visited Fort Bowie in Arizona.
Those who were not there will never understand, but my siblings (and perhaps my parents) will chuckle at this little blurb from the Fort Bowie website The hike in to the fort is part of the Fort Bowie experience

Yeah - it sure is!!

Fun Diverstion

2007-10-16T13:32:00.000-05:00

If you're looking for a 90 second diversion to whatever it was that you were supposed to be doing - you might check out this map on how religions have spread across the world!
Via Questioning Christian

Random Tidbits of Assorted News

2007-10-10T09:23:00.000-05:00

Blame it on the Brothers!

Sons are tough on their mothers. Whether it is heavier birth weights, amplified testosterone levels or simple, hair-raising high jinks, boys seem to take an extra toll on the women who gave birth to them. And by poring over Finnish church records from two centuries ago, Virpi Lummaa of the University of Sheffield in England can prove it: sons reduce a mother’s life span by an average of 34 weeks.

Full Article

Note to Self - Don't Catch Cholera

The function of the appendix seems related to the massive amount of bacteria populating the human digestive system, according to the study in the Journal of Theoretical Biology. There are more bacteria than human cells in the typical body. Most are good and help digest food. But sometimes the flora of bacteria in the intestines die or are purged. Diseases such as cholera or amoebic dysentery would clear the gut of useful bacteria. The appendix's job is to reboot the digestive system in that case

Learn About the Purpose of the Appendix

Movie Music

2007-10-08T07:42:00.000-05:00

As a rule, film score classical music is used as a shorthand: Handel indicates that the snobs have arrived, Mahler that someone is about to die, but not before pouting about it, and Wagner is a sure sign that big trouble's a-brewing. This cultural semaphore system was established in the silent-film era, when no monster worth his salt would dream of making his entrance without the accompaniment of Bach's Toccatta and Fugue in D or something equally theatrical by Liszt. The tradition continues today: Vivaldi's ludicrously overplayed Four Seasons invariably indicates that the stuffed shirts are having brunch; Beethoven's Ode to Joy announces that Armageddon may be just around the corner; and anytime an aria by Verdi, Bellini or Puccini is heard, you can bet your bottom dollar that someone is going to get raped, stabbed, blinded, buried alive or impaled.

Full Article via Arts Journal

Summer Booklist

2007-10-07T17:03:00.000-05:00

I'm late in posting my summer readlist (call it denial - I'm not ready for summer to be over!) And so, without further ado . . .

FICTION
Dealing with Dragons Patricia C. Wrede
Found while randomly browsing the library. A nice little fairy tale style book (sort of in the style of Shrek)

Searching for Dragons Patricia C. Wrede
The sequel to Dealing with Dragons - there are a few more books in the series and it's light reading. I'll probably go through them all!

The Hound of the Baskervilles Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock holmes of Baker Street
I'm on a little bit of a Sherlock Holmes kick - this is good stuff and future lists will no doubt include more of Mr. Holmes's adventures!

Lions, tigers and bears
Read for work. It left much to be desired!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Really, I had no choice but to love it. Certinaly not the strongest book of the series, but a tidy end to 10 years worth of adventures.

NON-FICTION
Among School Children Tracy Kidder
This was a great little book that follows the school year of a teacher. Easy read and highly recommended!

A Treasury of Great American Scandals Farquhar, Michael
I found this at the library while searching for audio books narrated by Johnny Heller (because he does a pretty good job reading aloud!) I need to do more searches by reader!

Museum: Behind the scenes at the Metropolitan museum of Art Danny Danziger
Recommended by amazon (and avaliable at the library) this book was a gold mine of information. Basically a series of interviews with people who work at the Met. FASCINATING!

Mindset: Psychology of New Success
Recommended by a friend - interesting book (but if you read the first few chapters, you basically have the whole book).

Poetry in Urban Classrooms
Read for work - this book should really be titled "Poetry in One Urban Classroom"
It was not what I expected (and not very helpful with my work project)

Lewis & Clark The Journey of the Crop of Discovery Dayton Duncan
Audiobook based on the Ken Burns series - one of the readers is they fella who played Adam on Northern Exposure (It drove me crazy trying to figure out how I recognized his voiced!)

Teach like your hair's on fire Rafee
Rafe is recognized as one of the best teachers in the U.S. The book is an easy read and very interesting. (But falls short of making me want to go back into the classroom thankyouverymuch!)

RE-READS
Meet the Austins and A Ring of Endless Light Madeline L'Engle
No surprises here - these have become sort of my funeral books. There is something very comforting about the O'Keefe and Austin families that has a magnetic pull after a funeral. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
To refresh my memory while waiting for book 7!

Brahms & VanHalen

2007-10-04T08:57:00.000-05:00

From Rachel Barton's email newsletter . . .

Last month, I had the great honor of spending an evening with Uli Jon Roth (of the Scorpions). At one point, he asked me to play his favorite part of the Brahms Violin Concerto – the end of the exposition of the first movement. When I got to the intense sixteenth-note passage, he pointed out that, years ago, he had started incorporating that lick into some of his guitar solos, and then “Eddie” (meaning Van Halen, of course) had started copying him, and then all of the other guitarists started copying Eddie. I was blown away to learn that this lick which every guitarist plays these days originated from Brahms

Locks of Love

2007-10-01T19:43:00.001-05:00

I (finally) got a haircut.
10 inches is a lot more than I thought
(It's almost too short for a popper pony tail!)
And I'm glad I didn't get overly generous and go for 12!
But I'm sensing far fewer tangles in my future and my head feels so much lighter!
(And when I spin around, my hair sorta does that slow-motion-shampoo-commercial thing!)

It's a Boy!

2007-10-01T17:28:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Josh Bell and Lisa Matricardi on the birth of a son - Josef Matricardi Bell!
Read more at the MPR Blog or go straight to the source himself!

While searching for a news article to confirm all this, I came across an interesting piece from the Des Moines Register. Those of you who happen to know of my ::ahem:: dislike of a certain pompous, Des Moines area violin player, might find it interesting. (And don't get me started on the corsets comment - egomaniac).

Free People Read Freely

2007-09-30T11:19:00.000-05:00

Happy Banned Books Week (brought to you by the American Library Association).

It's fun to look at the list of 100 most challenged books and wonder why some people find them offensive (Number 51 is A Light in the Attic. And number 88 is the highly controversial Where's Waldo!)

They have a beautiful Ray Bradbury quote on the website, "You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them."
Read more at Mental MultiVitamin

Don't Mess with our Chocolate

2007-09-21T13:11:00.000-05:00

The FDA isconsidering a proposal that would change the definition of chocolate. The change would allow products made with vegetable oil or other non-cocoa butter fats to be called chocolate, in spite of the fact that it the properties of cocoa butter are what make chocolate so special in the first place.
Read more at Baking Bites

Twirly Skirt

2007-09-20T07:07:00.000-05:00

I got a denim twirly skirt this summer.
It's long and flairs out when I spin around
Twirling around is a good way to start the day
If we really wanted world happiness, we'd buy everyone a twirly skirt
And encourage them to spin around in the morning
It's gonna be a good day!

A Week (and a day) of MLE Quotes

2007-09-17T07:57:00.001-05:00

Inspiration usually comes during work, rather than before it.” (from Summer of Great Grandmother p. 143)

A Week of MLE Quotes

2007-09-16T20:15:00.001-05:00

We do live, all of us, on many different levels, and for most artists the world of imagination is more real than the world of the kitchen sink. (Circle of Quiet p. 89)

A Week of MLE Quotes

2007-09-15T09:29:00.001-05:00

Every century the Church makes a fresh attempt to make Christianity acceptable. But an acceptable Christianity is not Christian; a comprehensible God is no more than an idol.
I don't want that kind of God. What kind of God then? (From The Irrational Season p. 19)

Whine, Whine, Whine

2007-09-14T08:07:00.000-05:00

I don't want to go to work today.
I want to stay at home, drink tea, and read.
Maybe take a nap.
Or stare out the window

Alas, I have a meeting this afternoon and HAVE to go to work
And, even though it's Friday, I have to dress up and look professional
(Why oh why did I schedule a meeting for a Friday afternoon?)

In other "what was I thinking?" news . . .
I was asked (and agreed) to be involved in another community organization
They do some exciting work, and it is nice to be recruited.
Yesterday (when I was awake and happy) it sounded like fun -
Today I'm thinking that I was insane to take on another project

Maybe I just need a vacation.

A Week of MLE Quotes

2007-09-14T07:15:00.000-05:00

Inspiration usually comes during work, rather than before it.(from Summer of Great Grandmother p. 143)

A Week of MLE Quotes

2007-09-13T06:55:00.000-05:00

A great painting, or symphony or play, doesn't diminish us, but enlarges us, and we, too, want to make our own cry of affirmation to the power of creation behind the universe. This surge of creativity has nothing to do with competition, or degree of talent. When I hear a superb pianist, I can't wait to get to my own piano, and I play about as well now as I did when I was ten. A great novel, rather than discouraging me, simply makes me want to write. This response on the part of any artist is the need to make incarnate the new awareness we have been granted through the genius of someone else. (from Circle of Quiet p. 147)

A Week of MLE Quotes

2007-09-12T07:08:00.000-05:00

One evening he came in as I was, as usual, banging away on the typewriter. "Madeleine, are you afraid of death?"
I turned around. "Of course, Red>"
"Thank God. Nobody's ever admitted it to me before>"
I've had people tell me they aren't afraid of death. I don't think I believe them. . . . My agnostic faith does not, at its worst, include pie in the sky. If if runs along the same lines as does William James's, it cannot evade acceptance of responsibility, judgement, and change. Whatever death involves, it will be different, a venture into the unknown, and we are all afraid of the dark. (Circle Of Quiet p 175)

A Week of MLE Quotes

2007-09-11T07:43:00.000-05:00

There is a gap in understand between me and our friends and acquaintances. I can’t quite understand a life without books and study and music and pictures and a driving passion. And they, on the other hand, can’t understand why I have to write, why I am a writer. When, for instance, I say to someone that I have to get home to work, the assumption is that I mean housecleaning or ironing, not writing a book. I’m very kindly permitted to be a writer but not to take time in pursuing my trade. nor can they understand the importance of music, or why an hour with a Mozart sonata at the piano is not wasted time but time spent on a real value. Or really listening, without talking, to music. Or going for a walk simply to see the beauty around one, or the real importance of a view from a window.
from Two Part Invention p. 156

A Week of MLE Quotes

2007-09-10T07:16:00.000-05:00

A winter ago I had an after-school seminar for high-school students and in one of the early sessions Una, a brilliant fifteen-year-old, a born writer who came to Harlem from Panama five years ago, and only then discovered the conflict between races, asked me out of the blue: "Do you really and truly believe in God with not doubts at all?"
"Oh, Una, I really and truly believe in God with all kinds of doubts."
But I base my life on this belief. (Circle of Quiet p, 63)

Women Read More than Men

2007-09-09T07:17:00.000-05:00

NPR did a story this week on how the reading habits of women vs. the reading habits of men. In and of it self this wasn't terribly interesting, but one sentence jumped out at me.

Among avid readers surveyed by the AP, the typical woman read nine books in a year, compared with only five for men. Women read more than men in all categories except for history and biography.

"Avid readers" only get through nine books in a year?
(Can you really be considered "avid" if you read less than a book a month?)
What does that make those of us who are easily reading more than 40 books a year?
Where did they get this sample (it certainly wasn't at my library, where adults are checking out 3-4 books at a time).

Madeleine L'Engle 1918-2007

2007-09-07T20:34:00.000-05:00

Madeleine L'Engle Camp Franklin, 88, of Goshen, CT and New York City, died Thursday, September 6th. Born November 29, 1918, in New York City, to Charles Camp and Madeleine Barnett Camp, she was educated in Switzerland and South Carolina, before graduating from Smith College. She was the author of over 60 books, including the award-winning A Wrinkle in Time.

A huge section of my personal library is devoted to Madeleine L'Enlgle books. I just told someone the other day about the profound influence Mshe had on the way I see things. The Crosswick Journals came into my life at just the right time - and every chapter is marked with quotes and sticky notes. If you aren't familiar with her work - I'd encourage you to go check it out!

Message

2007-09-05T23:18:00.000-05:00

I know that you know.
You don't know that I know that you know
But I know.

Except now I've told you that I know you know
So you know that I know that you know
Unless you don't realize that I'm writing to you
(But I am!)

And now everyone who reads this is going to be paranoid
Wondering what I know and if I'm writing to them.
(But I'm not writing to them - I'm writing to you!)

(-:

2007-09-03T20:13:00.001-05:00

It's a four day work week
There's a special surprise tomorrow
I'm going to bring treats to work on Thursday
AND Golden Grahams are on sale!
I think it's gonna be a good week!

Interesting Stats

2007-09-02T12:03:00.000-05:00

For every 100 girls who join Girl Scouts . . .

Only rarely will one be brought before a juvenile court.
Four will earn their Gold Awards.
Twelve will have their first contact with a church.
Five will earn their religious awards.
One will enter the clergy.
Eighteen will develop hobbies used through their adult life.
Eight will enter a vocation that was learned through a badge.
Seventeen will be future Girl Scout Volunteers.
One will use her Girl Scout skills to save a life.

Things in Germany

2007-09-01T16:51:00.000-05:00

Brother Phi posted a list of things about Germany
It's way more interesting than anything I'm going to post today, so head on over to his site to learn about German windows, toilets, cigarettes, locks, and money.

If you buy a pack of cigarettes her instead of having the label on the side that says "caution smoking may possibly be linked to lung cancer and might affect pregnancyes and may promote premature death" in tiny print. half of the front of the box says "SMOKING CAN MAKE YOU DEAD" its funn to read some of the labels while waiting at the super markt yet almost every one in germany still smokes. the first time i saw an advertisement for cigarets at the trainstation i thought it was anti-smoking propoganda but then i saw the packs at the supermarket and relized it was an advertiment and the second largest words on the poster were "smoking can make you dead" (in german of course).

Pachelbel Cannon Rant

2007-08-31T10:59:00.000-05:00

This one comes to you via Steph, who is, of course, cellist!

Pet Peeve of the Moment

2007-08-28T17:36:00.000-05:00

If you live in an apartment building.
And you use the community washing machine
DO NOT leave your clothes in the machine for 24+ hours
Thus hogging the machine.
I realize that I could take your wet mildewy clothes out, and maybe even throw them in the dryer for you. But I do not want to touch your wet mildewy underwear.
Thank you!

Welcome Home

2007-08-27T21:43:00.000-05:00

He is back.
Safe and sound
And his Mom looks the best she's looked in almost two years!
Happy Day!

Pike's Laws of Adult Learning

2007-08-26T13:06:00.000-05:00

Law 1: Adults are babies with big bodies.
It is accepted that babies enjoy learning through experience, because every exploration is a new experience. As children grow, educators traditionally reduce the amount of learning through experience to the point that few courses in secondary and higher education devote significant time to experiential education. It is now recognized that adult learning is enhanced by hands-on experience that involves adults in the learning process. In addition, adults bring a wealth of experience that must be acknowledged and respected.

Law 2: People do not argue with their own data.
Succinctly put, people are more likely to believe something fervently if they arrive at the idea themselves. Thus, when teaching adults, presenting structured activities that generate the students' ideas, concepts, or techniques will facilitate learning more effectively than simply giving adults information to remember.

Law 3: Learning is directly proportional to the amount of fun you are having!
Humor is an important tool for coping with stress and anxiety, and can be effective in promoting a comfortable learning environment. If you are involved in the learning process and understand how it will enable you to do your job or other chosen task better, you can experience the sheer joy of learning.

Law 4: Learning has not taken place until behavior has changed.
It is not what you know, but what you do that counts. The ability to apply new material is a good measure of whether learning has taken place. Experiences that provide an opportunity for successfully practicing a new skill will increase the likelihood of retention and application.

Long Time No Post

2007-08-26T11:09:00.000-05:00

Sorry kids - a ton of writing for work, and a glut of personal email, combined with the fact that I'm too busy to do anything interesting has resulted in blog silence. Plus, I'm really unhappy with this last template update and am spending my blog-time looking around for something better. AND it's so nice outside that I'd rather be playing than sitting at a computer thinking of clever things to write.

Here's the quick-n-dirty update (with more to follow!)

* Today is the one year anniversary of moving to my New Apartment! (This calls for a rootbeer float celebration - with homemade ice cream!!)

* I have NEW GLASSES! They're green and a little more fashionable/funky than I would normally go for (but I like them!)

* My little fourth grade orchestra babies are starting college last/this week (which means I need to think of a new name for them, since "The Valley Girls" is no longer appropriate).

* The Phil Glass Violin concerto has been stuck in my head all week (ear worms from minnimilist composers can get a little redundant).

* I attended an interesting workshop on instructional design - 'twas intriguing and I want to learn more.

Songs from Scratch

2007-08-15T13:27:00.000-05:00

If you are not already listening to Songs from Scratch, you might want to check it out.

There's something magical about a great song, whether it's Stravinsky or Springsteen. But where do great songs come from? How do they go from words and melodies to something more? To find out, we gave three local bands -- The Owls, The Roe Family Singers, and Matt Wilson -- two weeks to take one set of lyrics and put it to music. Songs From Scratch follows all their scribbling, singing, strumming, and doubting to get a first-hand look at how a song unfolds.

Benefits of Non-Profits

2007-08-14T08:01:00.000-05:00

Yesterday at a women's conference, the question was asked: How many of you have donated money to a nonprofit sometime in the last year? About 2/3 of 200 people raised their hands. And how many of you have volunteered for a nonprofit sometime in the last year? About 4/5 raised their hands. And how many of you have been beneficiaries of a nonprofit in the last year? Only eight.

Then it was pointed out that many in the audience have a parent who had been in a nonprofit hospital, had attended a nonprofit music concert, or had a son in a nonprofit soccer league. In addition, many in the group were simply alive because Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Consumers Union have lowered car accident fatalities. Many owe their jobs to prior work done by activists for civil rights and women’s rights. All were breathing cleaner air that day because of environmental activists. When asked again, 100% smilingly raised their hands.
From Board Cafe

War Letters

2007-08-11T07:10:00.000-05:00

This is spiffy - someone is blogging the letters of a World Wwar I soldier, exactly 90 years after they were written. Check out the website!
via Violins and Starships

Things

2007-08-08T07:57:00.000-05:00

* I have the most beautiful giant spider web outside my window.
The spider who lives there must be a good hider, because I've never seen him.
In the morning the sun shines on the web, and it glistens
(and at night I can barely see it, even though I know it's there

* I'm supposed to teach orienteering to a bunch of Girl Scout leaders this weekend
The good part is that it'll be part of a camping trip (I GET TO GO CAMPING!)
The bad part is that I have not used a compass in a long time (and need to do some serious review/re-learning before I can teach anything).

* Last night, just before I fell asleep, I remembered something wonderful. It made me smile and I was happy that I remembered this memory. EXCEPT this morning, I can not remember what it was that I remembered (or why it made me so happy!)

* People are really bugging me lately. I don't know if I'm just extra-crabby or if people are being extra-annoying.

* I'm taking my parents to the theater next week! We're going to go see 1776. As a kid, my family watched the movie a million times -- and often sang the opening song together. (Yes, we were an odd family, but you probably guessed that already!)

Science Quiz

2007-08-05T21:04:00.000-05:00

The Day After

2007-08-02T17:41:00.000-05:00

It was kind of a weird morning - The Bridge was international news and "Are You OK?" phone calls/emails were pouring in - for me and for everyone else in the area. (It was also an odd morning at work, as we waited for everyone to come in, and tried not to worry about those who were late).

I’ve been over that bridge many many many times – and it’s so close to where I work that everyone has a “what if” story. I know people who were just a few blocks away when it happened, a co-worker drove over the bridge 20 minutes before the collapse, and some friends of mine saw the splash). So many people use that route that almost everyone around here has a “close call” story. I myself was planning to be on it yesterday during rush hour – I was meeting people in a northern suburb and googlemaps told me that was the most direct route from work to meeting was 35W. Luckily a co-worker caught me googlemapping (on a work computer) and decided to pester me about it. In the course of our chat he asked where I was going and how I was getting there. When I showed him the map, he reminded me about the awful construction (and how it is made more awful during rush hour) and suggested I take an alternate route to northern suburbia.

It's impossible to know if I would have been on the 35W bridge when it collapsed into the river - but had he not wandered over to my desk, AND asked where I was going, AND suggested a different route, I would have been in the area somewhere around the time it happened - which is a little freaky. (I’ve been referring to Nick as “The Man Who Might Have Saved My Life!” I’m thinking about recreating that Brady Bunch episode and follow him around being overly-helpful for a couple of days until he goes crazy and I get to save his life in return!)

It's odd to see SO MANY news crews around town. News crews from around the world are here today – I was by the river this afternoon (I had a meeting at the University) and a few of their parking lots have been turned into Media Shanty Towns - - it’s a sea of newsvans, satellites, cameras, and such. There's also quite a few of them around the hospital - - and it's just weird. (Katie Couric, Matt Lauer, etc are ALL RIGHT HERE!)

I feel a little guilty - today I've felt the best that I've felt since Aunt Judy died - I was hungry, and laughed and generally enjoyed myself all day long. It's odd that I should feel good after a tragedy (but I'm going to run with it!)

And now, I'm going for a bicycle ride by the river to see what I can see (this is also known as "gawking")!

I'm OK

2007-08-01T20:14:00.000-05:00

If you've caught the news recently, you've probably heard about a traffic "incident" in my neck of the woods. I've gotten a few emails and phone calls from people who wanted to check in with me. (This was pretty close to home!) and thought I'd let you all know that I was not on that bridge today (nor was I bicycling by the river) and all is well on Planet Julie.

Julie VW

Stationery card

Learn More!

SPRING!

Car Pooling

Ramona Quimby

No More Snow . . . pluh-eeze???

Unnecessary

French Fries

Sleep Makes us Civilising!

Quote of the Day

Touch of Spring

Philosophical About Facebook

Why Not Elope

Random Factoid of the Moment

Did Bach's Wife Compose his Best Stuff?

Algebra

Julie's Anti-Heart Attack Plan

She was *my* student!!!

5 dangerous things you should let your kids do

Julie VW BA MA

Genetically Modified Chocolate?

Wolves and Bears

Thoughts on Church

Polyphonc Spree - Section 8 (Re-Lyriced)

Going to the Moon (kinda!)

A Conductor That Doesn't Talk

Factoid of the Day

Keep the Violins Together

Yo-yo Ma and the Robots

Rachel Barton

Today is Arts Advocacy Day

Find a Guy . . .

Countdown to April 5

Worst Teachers Nomination

Violinist Trips on Stage and Wrecks Stradivarius

From The Writer's Almanac

Great Moments in Blog History

Quote

Morning Sibelius

Creating a Marshmallow House

How to Seem Smart

Random Giraffe Trivia

Pet Peeve of the Moment

Song of the Moment

Skincare Dalek

Blue Monday

Home

Stupid Leader Meeting

Steph's Survey

Pun Fun

Excuse the Mess

Happy Birthday Steph!

Why We Think Time Slows

Last of the Teddy Grahams

Open Letter to Miss Ryan

Top 100 Living Geniuses

Carnival of the Animals

YES

The Library of Congress is Missing!

For the VW Siblings

Fun Diverstion

Random Tidbits of Assorted News

Movie Music

Summer Booklist

Brahms & VanHalen

Locks of Love

It's a Boy!

Free People Read Freely

Don't Mess with our Chocolate

Twirly Skirt

A Week (and a day) of MLE Quotes

A Week of MLE Quotes

A Week of MLE Quotes

Whine, Whine, Whine

A Week of MLE Quotes

A Week of MLE Quotes

A Week of MLE Quotes

A Week of MLE Quotes

A Week of MLE Quotes

She was my student!!!