fidlmath

Diana the Spider Wrangler

What do you think?

Neutronnorman found this.  Should we believe he is sincere?  Or ??????? I would like to believe it, but ... I guess I'm too much of a skeptic?

 

posted by: mafidl at December 27, 2006 22:30 | link | comments (5) |

Article, Interlude, Kitties

This is one of the most powerful and interesting analyses I've seen of where we should be going - if it's not too late.

After 2 days in Everglades City, relaxing, walking a bit [only a bit due to some rain], eating and relaxing, it's back to overcrowded, crazy-driving, stress-filled living.  Oh dear.  Now to write schedules and start writing notes for a class I haven't taught for several years - not since I started my webpage for school.  Have to relearn how to create that.  One of the plusses of E City is the night sky.  Not as many visible stars as in Southern Utah - in the high desert above/near Capitol Reef National Park, but nevertheless, awesome.  I saw 1 meteorite and 1 satellite, as well as a striking Orion and, for the first time in a few years, the Pleiades/Seven Sisters.  Beautiful.

This was followed , yesterday, by a great meal - buffet at Airport Hilton Hotel - way too much food, but fun.  One of my friends had surprise gifts for the rest of us - we don't exchange gifts, although cards are allowed.  He gave us each a CD - Olivia Newton John, "Grace and Gratitude" - I just listened to it.  It's very peaceful and lovely.

Then, later, over to visit the W's.  Mama W and one of her visitors are awesome cooks.  Also, this is the family from whom the boys, Milo and Nosedive came.   Friend, N, is sure that Emmy looked at him with an expression that said clearly "Why did you leave us?"  Also, while we were in E City he imagined that Voodoo was looking at the other 3 with big eyes and saying "They should have been back by now.  Where are they?  They're not coming back - what will we do?"  It's not as if they didn't have enuf food.  They got an extra serving of canned food Saturday morn before we left.  Guess they missed us, huh?

Now if I can only get the e to work properly on this laptop, I will be happier.  Hope y'all had a great Christmas,  regardless of your religious leanings.  I am not really religious, but believe that some of JC's teachings are worth practicing.  Also, something had to cause the Big Bang - God? of some sort?  Why not?

And BTW, welcome back Spartanjen/Blaue Reiter with a breathtaking picture.  Missed her presence on Motime.

posted by: mafidl at December 26, 2006 09:30 | link | comments (4) |
politics, kitties

Happy Holidays

This is dedicated to all of you who are looking forward to family christmas gettogethers, and all the rest of you. 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

 

posted by: mafidl at December 22, 2006 19:58 | link | comments (1) |

Wow

How would this be for a Christmas gift?  I saw a shorter version of this on this blog and thought it was a small child.  Frankly, I'm torn between excitement and apprehension.  At one point the narrator states that the robot will eventually/soon be able to recognize human gestures.  I've watched too many sci-fi movies/tv shows where robots decide they're better than humans and should succeed us.  Fiction? I hope so.

 

posted by: mafidl at December 22, 2006 10:00 | link | comments (3) |

PERFECT SCORE!

Once more I managed to lose my post.  This time, I dropped the cordless mouse - I'm so talented.

Anyhow, as expected, after I called Travelsmith yesterday, they next day UPS'd a duplicate of my order which had finally staggered here - with not 1 but 3 incorrect zipcodes, mind you - last evening.  So tomorrow this latter one goes back.  Turns out younger daughter, L, who is in Tasmania, will be going away for at least part of the holidays and will not receive her part of this in time for Christmas, anyhow.  Oh well , I tried.

On another note: yesterday, after walking around Anhinga Trail in the Everglades south of here for a couple of hours, N and I decided to follow a sign that said "Winery" - here in South Florida - Wow!  Turns out they make 5 or 6 wines from tropical fruit - no grapes.  We tried: Carambola Oak, Carambola, Mango, Guava and Passion Fruit.  Our favorites, in order:  Passion Fruit, Mango and Guava - so bought several bottles for gifts and/or a possible party after Christmas. 

Saturday and Sunday we will be in Everglades Cit y, a small community on, or almost on, the Gulf of Mexico over near but south and east of Naples.  It will probably rain this time, but we take games and when possible, walk around - or make use of a canoe that River Wilderness [motel/time shares] have available for customers.  Last year, as N and I drove around one evening, we were hearing music.  Looked for it and discovered an SUV pulling a small flatbed with sound equipment and a couple of people, one a young woman who was singing Christmas carols - with something like a Karoake [sp?] accompaniment.  She was very good and all that was lacking were people and snow.  A few residents opened their doors, but for the most part there was nobody around.  Daughter, J, who was in our unit, opened the door and heard it and we all were entranced.  Given the setting and dearth of people it was somewhat surreal - but delightful.  A bit reminiscent of carolers walking around up north - but, sadly, no snow.

Monday morning we will drive back, then go with 5 other friends to a buffet - the same place we went to for Thanksgiving.  It was and should be great - too much food, but fun.  One of these days I shall cook again - maybe New Years? 

BW  I lost the post again because I wanted a color that isn't on the pallet, or whatever it's called.  But this time I had highlighted and copied it first - fool me once and er ... in the words of our fearless leader - you can't fool me again!   So There!!!

posted by: mafidl at December 20, 2006 14:01 | link | comments (2) |

GW again

Amazing that there's this much change in only 10 years.  Also, here's an article which refers to the Atlantic Monthly article by this doctor.

 

posted by: mafidl at December 19, 2006 22:47 | link | comments |

GW

I would like to think that this must have been taken out of context in some way.

 

posted by: mafidl at December 19, 2006 21:37 | link | comments |

Frustration^2

This definitely isn't my morning.  I had a decent post written, couldn't get to a color I wanted, realized I was blocking popups so chose to temporarily allow them - and presto, no more post.  GRRRRRR.  When will I learn to hilite and save my posts as I go?  Sob.
OK so as I said before, I thought I was off to Walmart, shortly.  Because it's convenient and now has really reasonably priced prescription drugs - regardless of whether one has health insurance or not.  A friend will now be able to get his scripts for something like $20-$50/mo instead of the $140/mo it's been costing.  Finally!  Then, while we were there, we were going to look for, maybe sneakers and shorts for him for a Christmas gift.  But, he is one of the most difficult, cantankerous people I know - took too long doing some other pressing things and now unilaterally decided to go there on his own.  At his convenience we will take his car for service and do the other shopping tomorrow.  MEN!

Speaking of Walmart, there was an article in The Week Magazine [a great mag that gives summaries of the best articles/columns from other newspapers, etc] about how the 1100 residents of Anita, Iowa had formed a cooperative to buy the only local grocer y left.  It was about to close since Walmart had built a Supercenter 12 miles away that was pulling all the business away.  I don't know how long that strategy will work, but think it was great.  Where I live, most of the smaller, independent stores have closed.  The problem is that these big stores are just  too convenient.  Just think, we could get friend's meds, some clothes and even groceries there if we wanted to, to say nothing of toys, gardening supplies, etc.  And with the traffic this close to Christmas, it's not my bag to drive all over to other stores and give myself an anxiety attack in the process.  Within a less than 2 mile stretch on one street we have Big K-Mart, Target and Walmart.   

So to get away from all this, maybe, we will then drive down to the Everglades and walk a bit. 
BTW the software that was supposed to get here yesterday arrived late, wet box, but contents OK.  The other box which should have arrived more than a week ago and was promised for Friday still isn't here - but after emailing the company, I've been told it should arrive early tomorrow AM.  Sigh. TTFN

posted by: mafidl at December 19, 2006 10:26 | link | comments (3) |

je fine

My grades are entered and I'm FREEEEE!!!! Well until Jan 8 and the inbetween time when I have to set up my schedules for my 4 classes for Spring Term.  Including one class I haven't taught in several years and have to write new notes and website for.  Why do I always feel embarassed to admit that I only have 3 or 4 classes to teach?  Because I know that my brothers and sisters who teach in K-12 teach much longer hours and have more homework.  What makes it more or less even out is that I know that if you've been teaching for a number of years, as my older daughter has, you are making more money for a 9-month position than I do.  I am not jealous about that - I have a somewhat easier time of it, which, at my age and stage, I am grateful for - Grateful but not Dead heheheheh.   I also recognize that teaching college is really not as challenging as teaching K-12.  Perhaps that shouldn't be so, but, for me, it is.  I have the utmost respect and admiration for anyone who successfully teaches middle school.  I am somewhat pyeyed [pieyed?]- whatever.  I'm about to go up and reclaim my new bass guitar from friend, N, who plays it better than I e'en tho' he protests too much "I'm not a bassist"  well, neither am I, but I am going to have fun playing it.  Later.

posted by: mafidl at December 18, 2006 17:24 | link | comments (5) |

today

Today was supposed to be better, right?  It took me several hours to sort out why my package ordered 10 days ago hadn't arrived - wrong zipcode became worse zipcode when passed to DHL.  Luckily I discovered when checking the tracking that it had been given to some post office in Miami - and now has been redirected and, I hope, will arrive tomorrow.  Then there was the software for which I had to provide my academic verification. Done. Oops - Credit card refused, but then that got sorted out and I hope it will be UPS'd tomorrow [err Manana, from this Third World Country].  Then my new computer was to be installed at 4.  Silly me, I thought it would take 30 min [Muhahahahaha!]  2 1/2 hours later I finally got out of there - but the time was compensated by having my 2 big extra software programs set up - well 1was.  The other requires a password which will only be supplied when I fax a paper to the right person at school.  Then home to cook a Skillet concoction - very good and easy to make.
I am still hoping to be able to send a package to my daughter in Tasmania in time for her to have it by Christmas - without my having to pay twice as much as everything in it is worth to get it there on time.  BTW I hadn't gotten a phone card a couple of weeks ago when I wanted to call her.  Used my cellphone and it cost $6.98 for 2 min!! But it was worth it, even tho' I only got to chat with her roommate.  Good thing it wasn't daughter or it might have cost 10 times as much.  Still haven't finished grading final exams - so back to the grindstone.  Later.

posted by: mafidl at December 14, 2006 20:38 | link | comments (1) |

Template by motime.com  |  header image credit: Markus Gann © www.begann.de