fidlmath

Diana the Spider Wrangler

Tom Lehrer again

One of my favorite performers - with one of my favorite subjects.
That's Mathematics

posted by: mafidl at March 29, 2007 20:32 | link | comments (4) |

Great volunteers

I have entitled this picture Birdwoman of Metrozoo.  She, Linda,  is a middle school teacher and dedicated volunteer, working with the birds in our Children's Zoo.  She is there for hours over at least one day on the weekend, cleaning, feeding, training, caring for and exhibiting the birds.  Everyone [except for one former keeper] admires and respects her.  At one time we had some fruit bats and they were a great love of hers - I even got to hold one.  Unfortunately, they had to be sent off - perhaps for the wrong reasons - a source of sorrow for many of us.  We are very lucky to have her volunteering. 

Her Mom, Barbara, is also a volunteer, retired schoolteacher, official volunteer photographer of everything at the zoo and a great friend and help wherever and whenever she's needed. 

posted by: mafidl at March 27, 2007 09:02 | link | comments (4) |
teaching, zoo

Planet-Earth, etc

Last night I watched part of the new series on Discovery Channel.  The reason it was part, not all, was that at the same time the show was on there was an interactive site and chat on the internet.  I am used to multi-tasking, but trying to watch the show, follow the info, work the jigsaw puzzles! and questions on the interactive site and chat at the same time proved too much for my too-finite brain.  Luckily, I taped the 3 hours [first of 11] and will be able to watch it again.  What I did see was wonderful.  The next installment will be, I believe, next Sunday at 8PM. 
Friend, NN, took daughter J's 16 yr old dog to the vet this afternoon.  The dog couldn't get up and was unresponsive and we thought it might be the last time.  I went there after I cut short my afternoon class.  It seems that the dog was full of ticks, despite the fact that J puts medication on him monthly, or however often it's required.  Vet said if the yard is full of ticks, the med wouldn't work.  Great.  So he's staying at least overnight, getting pain med and antibiotic, will have blood tests to see if there's any disease or infection due to the ticks.  Also, he's probably going to need therapy to get him walking better.  Tomorrow I'll get to talk to the vet who has mostly seen him before - although I definitely trust the one that saw him this afternoon. 
Then there was this morning, when the classroom where I teach that class is being redone to become an electronic classroom, complete with a document camera.  I got to use a room with one of those a couple of years ago and it is easier to use than overhead projector and transparencies, which I now use.  The problem was that the document camera isn't there yet and the new screen is only at most 2/3 the height of the former one, so I couldn't use the overhead projector.  Luckily, the room next door, though supposedly occupied, was vacant.  Now the class is going to be moved for the rest of the term to a room that does have a document camera - an older one which doesn't work as well as the new ones will, but the only other alternative in the same area.  Now to see if my students will a) read their webpage where it says their class is moved or b) look at the notice that will be on the door or, failing both of those occurrences c) look at the chalkboard in the old room and, finally, if any of the above c) bother to come to the other room.  There were only about 12 there this morning - first day back from Spring Break, and the material we covered last class before it and this one is some of the most difficult.  Oh dear - wringing hands!
Speaking of multi-tasking, I am watching an older episode of Stargate SG-1 as I'm typing this and wondering what happened to Richard Dean Anderson, whose presence was such a positive contribution to the original cast.  I miss his leadership, sarcasm and successful attempts to get technological explanations from the scientists in the team simplified.

posted by: mafidl at March 26, 2007 19:14 | link | comments (1) |
teaching, nature, pets, tv

New website

A friend sent me this.  At first I thought it was a joke - but apparently not.  Shudder.  May the Goddess help us.

posted by: mafidl at March 24, 2007 19:56 | link | comments (1) |
politics, doomsday

Nature moves in mysterious ways

This is amazing:

posted by: mafidl at March 24, 2007 09:45 | link | comments (1) |
nature

trivia

Tuesday evening we brought daughter J's 16+ yr old dog home with us.  J is going out of the country for 2 weeks and needed to have me keep the dog.  His hind quarters are weak, he is nearly blind and nearly deaf - but aside from that he's fine.  He had slipped and evidently injured one or both of his front legs a couple of days before - so he could hardly walk.  Thank goodness he was better the next day.  Last night he either had a seizure or ? and when I got him up in the morning today he was lying in urine.  So, I took him out, hosed him down then towel dried him as well as I could.  Had to leave him out while I went up to school to retrieve my laptop, which had died Wednesday.  It had to be reconfigured, whatever that means, and so needed all kinds of stuff reinstalled - and when I got it home my router wouldn't recognize it - but Bellsouth DSL expert managed to get it straightened out - turned out it was simple, just had to know what to do.  Dog seems better this afternoon - ate and walked.  So, I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Yesterday I had 2 doctors' appointments - first with GP who is actually an internist - and had blood sugar test results.  I must lose weight - am pre-diabetic, but weight loss will probably fix it.  Then lunch with friends, followed by appointment with Rheumatologist.  I wound up having 3 cortisone shots - 1 in each wrist for carpal tunnel and 1in left knee - which I won't bore you with anymore - just suffice it to say that the fall from my bike a few days ago didn't help it - but it could be a lot worse.  This doc said something about surgery for the carpal tunnel - and seemed to be saying that I could have it and then within a short time travel to Utah to visit daughter L.  I will call one of the surgeons he recommended and see if that is really possible.  I thought recuperation would be long and nasty, but maybe I'm wrong.
Today noon I was at  the Zoo in the Aviary.  The male Regianna Bird of Paradise is simply gorgeous.  Apparently it took him about 3 years to grow his magnificent tail.

posted by: mafidl at March 23, 2007 17:47 | link | comments |
health, pets, zoo

More trivia

Last week I noticed that I had never been credited a refund for 2 items of clothing ordered online and then returned.  So, uncharacteristically politely, I emailed an inquiry.  Received an answer quickly.  Seemed the authorized refund form or whatever had been sitting since 2/15 and would be credited to my credit card ASAP.  Now, I don't mean to be picky or greedy, but maybe they should have offered/sent me a coupon for something?  Waaaahhhh! 
Yesterday afternoon late, J, NN and I went to a local hospital which was having a sort of outdoor fair/fundraiser for cancer survivors.  J's school's art students had made a poster for one booth and we wanted to see it.  Not their often spectacularly beautiful work, but it was what was wanted - a colorful wheel of fortune.  Also I had a 10 minute massage by a professional and NN had a 5 minute walk on his back - after which he was really loosened up.  Mine felt good, too.  Also bought 6 tickets for the wheel of fortune - won a cute glass fish and a raffle ticket - which, evidently yielded nothing - but you don't mind when it's for a good cause.  BTW at the Zoo Volunteer's appreciation dinner last week I won a door prize - a picture of a lion, head stretched forward, eyes closed, sniffing of a blossom on a tree - precious. 
I believe I'm lucky.  My bike-falling-off-episode yesterday seems to have been ameliorated by my initial ice packs, followed by the massage, followed later by a Tylenol-3 and later by ice packs, 2 extra-strength Tylenols, a second 200 mg Celebrex [I take one in the AM] and a 1 mg Lorazepam which I take to help me get to sleep.  Now as far as the Lorazepam is concerned, I sometimes subsequently feel a bit out of it in the morning, which means, maybe, that I should take only 1/2 mg of it.  Guess I'll try that.  I don't want to take anything, but without it I awaken several times during the night and often have trouble getting back to sleep.  With it, I may still awaken once, or maybe twice, but fall back asleep pretty easily.  I did try taking Valerian root a few times - managed to choke down the foul-smelling capsule without gagging - but it didn't seem to help.  I have been hearing/watching commercials for something called Rozerem and will ask my doctor about Friday when I have an appointment with him.

posted by: mafidl at March 18, 2007 09:55 | link | comments |

Kitty Pest and health issues

I don't know which one did it, but one of my furry darlings bit almost through the power cord/transformer/charger for my laptop - luckily through the part nearer the computer, so the voltage didn't kill him/her.   Come to think of it, Voodoo used to go after electrical cords when he was younger and still wants to bite the curly cord on my lone non-cordless phone.  Since laptop belongs to the school I can probably get a cord  there, maybe not even have to pay for it.  At first it seemed as if it blew the computer, but when I removed, then reinstalled the battery, it was/is OK.  The battery seems to lose power too quickly.  But  this is weird as s$%t - initially it said 3:34 hours, then 2:18, then 2:20, now 3:00.  Hmmmmm.  Gremlins in the machine? [Not the movie type, but the ones that were supposed to be around when I was growing up - causing light switches to go on/off at random and other electrical or electronic mischief.]

I went for a bikeride by myself this morning.  The good news is I did 50 min and about 6.3 miles.  The bad news is I managed to fall [got off the walk onto leaves and wheels went out from under], bent my bad knee all the way, stressed my other calf and hip - nothing serious, apparently [I was able to ride home] and 3 ice packs seemed to help. [lol].  2 very nice men came over, made sure I was OK, helped me up and said I need a lower bike.  The problem is if I lower the seat any more it will make my knees bend too much when I'm riding.  Daughter J said maybe I need to get a 3 wheeler - not that I can't manage the 2 wheeled beast [which is called a comfort 400 - has shock absorbers!] and that even if such incidences are rare to non-existent, when they do happen, the consequences may be worse for an older person.  I'll give it some thought, but I'm not ready for the rocking chair, yet.  I think there was probably more damage to my ego than my body.

While I was lying on my couch with the ice packs I was facing my patio and there were smallish butterflies all around my one tree - a hibiscus [I've been trying to remember that name for about an hour].  2 kinds of butterflies: 1 yellow and black the other orange and black.

Speaking of memory and CRS [senior] moments, I started taking Chromium Picolinate to try and help lower my blood sugar.  My cousin J is also taking it and managing her BS very well.  She's taking a much higher dosage than I was, but before I decided to go to a higher dose, NN looked online and found an interesting article.  It seems that the amount I was taking [for the last 10 days to 2 weeks] is from 3-5 times the recommended amount and among other possible problems, a high dosage can cause memory loss!  I definitely don't need/want that - so am cutting back severely on it.  Also, the article says a daily dose of Brewers' Yeast is sufficient, so I guess I'll get some of that instead of what I'm taking.  I emailed CousinJ right away, too.

posted by: mafidl at March 17, 2007 12:17 | link | comments (3) |
health, kitties

clouds

Since the time change, I now get to school early again, and had a chance to get a picture like one I put on here last Fall, but with Spring clouds reflected.
I had my blood tests this morning, results will be in Monday.  Then I can compare what my meter says to what the professional blood sugar is.  The bad news is after 13+ hours of fasting it was still above what it should be if I weren't  insulin resistant, but the good news is that it is still going down, slowly.  It would be nice if it turns out that my meter is defective, but I'll have to wait and see and won't keep my fingers crossed.
My instructor search committee met today - managed to eliminate some of the applicants without necessary requirements and single out several to interview.  Now we will have to wait until after my Spring Break, which is this week.  Whooppee!!!  I'm looking forward to sending my income tax stuff to my accountant-cousin and otherwise, resting.  Well, maybe I'll grade the extra credit ESSAY! that I assigned 3 of my classes after they did so poorly on their second tests.  How on earth do you grade an essay?  It will be an interesting exercise for me, for sure. I guess essay might be an exaggeration - it was supposed to be from 1 sentence to a couple of paragraphs and no more than one page.  I promised them a couple of extra credit points on the test if they showed that they'd put some effort and thought into it. 

posted by: mafidl at March 16, 2007 19:20 | link | comments (1) |
teaching, clouds

Here Again

My classes are now smaller - yesterday was the drop date.  I believe I have about half as many students as at the beginning of the term.  The last [second] test did the trick - not deliberately, but ... 
Remember the downstairs sink?  I decided to dump the water again, but put a smallish water bowl in it full of water.  When I came home today someone had pooped in the water bowl.  I'm hoping that just means that with only 2 litter boxes, someone was in a hurry and either couldn't get upstairs quickly enuf, or both commodes were occupied.  Anyhow, water is back in the sink.  The other unhappy thought that I had was that maybe Voodoo did it.  I keep thinking that he's not doing very well.  Maybe I'll have to try to get the medicine into him again - by putting the powder in his canned food - but since that's only a part of what he eats, I don't see how it will help. 
 Neutronnorman's latest post - the one entitled I Hurt - had me in tears again.  I can't stand what we're doing to or what is happening to our planet.  Whether we believe in Global Warming or not, it seems that there are far too many species that are endangered and/or becoming extinct.  Surely we can manage to keep a balance.  If not, then we're all doomed, I fear.  NN thinks my current funk is because of the time change this weekend, but I was feeling down before that.  Sorry to be so negative.  Maybe I shouldn't leave this post on - I'll see. 
My carpal tunnel syndrome has been giving me what for for the last several days, too - so that I've made an appointment next week to talk to my doctor about it.  I'm also having blood tests Friday because of my bloody blood sugar not going down enuf.  I believe it isn't dangerously high, but decided to let my doctor decide about that - hence the tests.  Most of the time I've been eating sensibly - for several weeks - but it isn't down to what it should be. The good news is we went for a 3+ mile bikeride Saturday - but nothing since, damnit.  Guess I'll go ride the stationary bike. TTFN.

posted by: mafidl at March 13, 2007 20:33 | link | comments (2) |
kitties

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