not bad...

Certainly not complaining but this was an uneventful Halloween. I did go out for dinner with my parents, and it was delish!

don't forget

and change the batteries in your smoke detectors!

birthday flowers

A gorgeous birthday bouquet was waiting for me when I arrived home from the conference.

who are you on halloween?

You Are Traditional on Halloween

Halloween is all about the things you've loved since you were a kid. It's a holiday of big traditions for you. You love carving pumpkins, eating candied apples, trick-or-treaters, and old horror movies. You would never be found dressing up as the latest celebrity. You're much more likely to go for an old standby like witch or vampire. Halloween has a lot of history for you, and you're not about to throw it all away for the latest Halloween trend!

Who Are You On Halloween?

Blogthings: We'll Tell You The Truth... Someone Has To!

saturday 9

She's A Beauty

1. Do you consider yourself beautiful? I think I'm a beautiful person... not necessarily focusing on looks

2. Do you think you have a great sense of humor? yes

3. What is the funniest thing you ever said? mostly situational quips

4. What's the funniest thing you ever did? I pulled a prank on a teacher down the hall from me: I turned everything in her room backward or upside down. It took an entire class period and I had a little bit of help but we managed to do the whole room, bulletin boards and book cases.

5. In a partner, how important are looks? mildly important

6. In a partner, how important is sense of humor? pretty important

7. What's the funniest thing a partner ever said? I don't remember

8. What's the funniest thing a partner ever did? nothing particular comes to mind

9. In a partner, how important is intelligence? now that's important

spooky advice...

Thirteen Things to Remember on Halloween!

1. When it appears that you have killed the monster, never check to see if it's really dead.

2. If you find that your house is built upon or near a cemetery, was once a church that was used for black masses, had previous inhabitants who went mad or committed suicide or died in some horrible fashion, or had inhabitants who performed satanic practices in your house - move away immediately.

3. Never read a book of demon summoning aloud, even as a joke.

4. Do not search the basement, especially if the power has just gone out.

5. If your children speak to you in Latin or any other language which they should not know, or if they speak to you using a voice which is other than their own, shoot them immediately. It will save you a lot of grief in the long run. NOTE: It will probably take several rounds to kill them, so be prepared.

6. As a general rule, don't solve puzzles that open portals to Hell.

7. Never stand in, on, above, below, beside, or anywhere near a grave, tomb, crypt, mausoleum, or other house of the dead.

8. If appliances start operating by themselves, move out.

9. Do not take anything from the dead.

10. If you're running from the monster, expect to trip or fall down at least twice, more if you are of the female persuasion. Also note that, despite the fact that you are running and the monster is merely shambling along, it's still moving fast enough to catch up with you.

11. If your companions suddenly begin to exhibit uncharacteristic behavior such as hissing, fascination for blood, glowing eyes, increasing hairiness, and so on, get away from them as fast as possible.

12. Stay away from certain geographical locations, some of which are listed here: Amityville, Elm Street, Transylvania, Nilbog (you're in trouble if you recognize this one), the Bermuda Triangle, or any small town in Maine.

13. Beware of strangers bearing tools such as chainsaws, staple guns, hedge trimmers, electric carving knives, combines, lawnmowers, butane, torches, soldering irons, band saws, or any device made from deceased companions.

friday fill-in

# 148

1. It was a dark and stormy night, so I lit some candles.

2. The student's hands were full, so I offered to take the books myself.

3. Rushing out, I forgot to lock my classroom door.

4. Hey!...I think I heard a howl!

5. Shhhh... I'm trying to hear the keynote speaker.

6. Trick or Treat! give me something good to eat!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to heading home, tomorrow my plans include laundry and Sunday, I want to get ready for another busy week!

thursday bug

Sometimes it helps to share with others what bugs your mind.

They may have a solution, a kind word, or a smile of encouragement.

This week my thursday bug is:

Loud snoring from a roommate.

what color is your birthday?

Your Birthday is Lime

You are the envious type. You can't help it... you always want what you can't have. Your jealousy is rare in that it's actually quite healthy. Envy is what motivates you in life. You want to be the most successful, most liked, and most wealthy person you know. And even if you don't get there, you work every day at being a better person.

What Color Is Your Birthday?

Blogthings: Waste Time at Work!

what does your birthday predict about you?

Your Birthday Predicts You're Sensitive

Ever since you were born, you've always been able to cooperate. You enjoy supporting and being inspired by others. You appreciate the dynamic of a group. Getting along with others is essential to you. You are both fair and well mannered. You are very intuitive and easily effected by other people. Sometimes you are too delicate.

What Does Your Birthday Predict About You?

puff...

My new (as in just moved in today) neighbor downstairs is a smoker. What part of smoke-free building is the confusing part??

boosted meme...

Lovingly boosted from Tense Teacher.

1. What color is your front door? white

2. Tell me about your siblings. If you are an only child, tell me whether or not you wanted siblings, older, younger etc. I've got three older sisters

3. What color/type butterfly is your favorite? the pretty ones!

4. Will you be celebrating Cinco De Mayo? not really

5. Oprah — love her, hate her, or don’t care? love her!!

6. Are you worried about the spread of swine flu? sort of

7. Hard or soft pillows? I like one of each

8. How many trees are in your neighbor’s yard? too many to count

9. What was the color of the last car you saw? black

10. When does your driver’s license expire? I don't really know... I should check though

11. Look at the clock on your computer and type the numbers backwards. 20:6

12. When you put your pants on, what leg do you put in first? usually the left

on the road again...

Heading to my first state-wide AP conference on Thursday after school. Unfortunately there is just one that's specific to American History but the workshop coordinator said I should go to the Government workshop, too. I hope it doesn't spoil my birthday. I'll be rooming with my AP Institute roomie. I was thinking I'd go shopping during the afternoon session. We'll see what's up.

catholic girl's worst nightmare...

ten things tuesday...

1) I love the candy.

2) Pumpkins. Carved or uncarved. One year some kids I worked with (this was before I was teaching) went out and gathered up all the pumpkins they could find around town and I had guilted them about smashing the pumpkins so they left them on my front porch and walkway.

3) I used to love dreaming up costume ideas. My best one, though, was a nun's habit that was left over from a production of Nunsense.

4) It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Classic. Beloved.

5) Passing out candy to trick or treaters. I usually go to Dad's and pass out the loot because no kids come here.

6) Birthday parties. Because my birthday is so close to Halloween I used to have cool costume parties for my birthday. We'd have games and cake and good times.

7) Dog costumes. It's really fun to see dogs parading around all dressed up. My sister's dog won the costume contest last year.

8) Pumpkin chip cookies. Pumpkin chip bread. Pumpkin pie. Pumpkin seeds. Pumpkin spice latte from Dunkin' Donuts.

9) Spooky music. And funny old monster songs.

10) Friendly witches and ghosts, zombies and vampires. When they are jolly instead of evil.

are you a vampire, witch or zombie?

You Are a Vampire

Like a vampire, you can be a bit cold and heartless at times. You are very calculating. You think with your head, and you know better than to follow your heart. While you are as thick skinned and resourceful as a vampire, you aren't necessarily as evil. You can easily manipulate people into doing what you want. Whether you actually choose to manipulate them or not is a different matter.

Are You A Vampire, Witch, Or Zombie?

Blogthings: Quizzes and Tests and Memes, Oh My!

off the road again...

So, today was a bust--the conference was not nearly as inspiring as we hoped it would be. I thought it was supposed to be about ways to focus on economics in what I already teach, but it was more about strategies and lessons to teach economics. Not the same thing at all. It was interesting, but not what I thought it was going to be.

Six hours in the car for this?

In other words... a bit of a waste of time.

U2...

U2 live from the Rose Bowl on YouTube tonight at 8:30pm Pacific. www.youtube.com/u2

Wish I could stay up late enough to catch it. *sigh*

Getting older stinks. As does being responsible.

yummmmmmm...

Lawd have mercy but I am stuffed! We went to the Longhorn Steakhouse and I actually ordered a steak! My colleagues were shocked because I usually get salad, but tonight I got a big girl meal!

Here's the scoop:

New Three Cheese & Bacon-Wrapped Filet

A tender 7 oz. filet, wrapped with hickory-smoked bacon and topped with an aged white cheddar, parmesan and provolone cheese crust. Served over a mild Dijon sauce with choice of side and salad.
Available for a Limited Time

and for dessert, two of us shared:
Caramel Apple Goldrush

Sweet, sliced apples tossed with cinnamon, butter and brown sugar, baked in a golden pastry shell. Served warm, with vanilla ice cream and Maker's Mark® bourbon-caramel and raspberry sauces.

For some reason, Blogger is being very naughty and isn't letting me put in links, or I would link this: http://www.longhornsteakhouse.com/menu/menu_seasonal.asp

postsecret

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people
mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard. I like to post one that speaks to me each week. I'm lovin' the new book!

i say... and you think...?

1. Redskins :: hot dogs (a Maine thing)
2. Show :: production
3. Smoker :: hacking cough
4. Bad movie :: Joe versus the Volcano
5. Play :: games
6. Jaguar :: favorite car
7. Click :: clack
8. Production :: show
9. Sand :: grainy
10. Foreign :: alien


#352

sunday stealing

(click the icon to play along)

Sunday Stealing: The Halloween Meme


1. What is your favorite written work of horror fiction? 'Salem's Lot by Stephen King scared the bejeepers out of me when I read it way back in junior high school

2. What is your favorite work of science fiction/fantasy? I don't know that I have one

3. Who is your favorite monster? does Lurch count?

4. What is your favorite Horror movie? the Exorcist... just thinking of the music gives me the creeps

5. What horror movie gives you the most chills? the Shining

6. What character from any horror film would you most like to play? I wouldn't

7. Freddy or Jason? Jason

8. What is your favorite Halloween treat? chocolate

9. Ghosts or goblins? meh

10. Friendly-faced jack-o'-lantern or scary one? I like creative ones

11. What is your scariest encounter with the paranormal? I haven't had one

12. Do you believe in ghosts? Why or why not? not so much

13. Would you rather be a zombie, alien, or psycho? being an alien would be cool

14. Favorite Halloween costume? the nun's habit I had one year

15. Best thing about Halloween? the decorations

16. Person in your family who most likes Halloween (not counting yourself)? my sister--she gets into decorating

17. Are you superstitious? no

18. Share an unusual Halloween story. I don't really have one

19. What did you do for Halloween as a kid? we used to trick-or-treat in the neighborhood... but the community used to have big parties with costume contests and all kinds of good stuff

20. What's the best Halloween party that you've attended? uhm... trying to remember what year it was... I went to a costume party with all kinds of friends, there were a couple of us celebrating birthdays, too so it was a huge festive night!

sums it up...

There aren't enough days in the weekend. ~Rod Schmidt

hope it's worthwhile...

Heading to the annual The Maine Council for the Social Studies conference tomorrow. This year it's focusing on Economics Education. I'm hoping it's going to be good. The school vehicle is out of commission so I'm taking my own car. Should be interesting to see all of us piled in--two of the gents going are well over six-feet tall, one of them weighs over three hundred pounds. The nice thing is that I get my own hotel room.

gorbing...

I'm totally gorbing out on Bravo tonight. The Real Housewives of Atlanta! Giddy-up!

it's on!

I love Restaurant War round on Top Chef! So glad they're replaying it.

saturday 9

Hey Jealousy

1. Tell us a story when you got jealous. I'm not really a jealous person. The only time I can think of is when blogging friends do super cool stuff (like going to concerts) that just aren't a reality for me.

2. What is your least favorite thing about yourself? I'm really hard on myself.

3. Who do you mess with the most? gullible people

4. Do you have any special talents? What are they? I'm a great listener

5. If you could have a secret fling that no one would ever find out about, would you? depends on with whom

6. What's the furthest you've been from home? Holland, California or Aruba depending on which direction you travel

7. How many Saturday 9 player's blogs do you typically visit? 3 or 4

8. Some great bloggers lose their "mojo" and quit blogging. Could you see that happening to you? I go through lulls when I just do memes, sure, but I don't think I'd ever give it up completely.

9. What's the biggest mistake you've made so far this year? the gaffe on Thursday

phew...

So, the big confrontation today wasn't as awful as I expected it to be. The angry mother wanted to rip my head off yesterday seemed to have a bit more perspective this morning. It seems my apology, and explanation, was enough.

friday fill-in

# 147

1. The crickets sing, but only when they're not frozen.

2. Be present wherever you are.

3. I want to get far away from the week's drama.

4. World peace; this was a dream.

5. But as for me I'm coming into my own with each passing day.

6. Here is where I come from.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing, tomorrow my plans include the Breakfast Club and Sunday, I want to safe travels to the economics conference!

whoopsie...

I made a mistake today. I was joking and went too far. Now I've got to keep cool and suffer the consequences. Hopefully when I have the meeting about it, I will not become defensive. This is one of those times that an apology should be enough but I suspect it won't be. Really, what more can I do than apologize?

Mea culpa.

thursday bug

Sometimes it helps to share with others what bugs your mind.

They may have a solution, a kind word, or a smile of encouragement.

This week my thursday bug is:

The first snowfall of the season in mid-October.

what's your autumn sense?

Your Autumn Sense is Sight

You are a keen appreciator of beauty, and you believe there is no more beautiful season than the fall. Like everyone else, you love the sight of changing leaves. However, unlike everyone else, you notice every color, shape, and pattern. You love people watching in the fall. Whether you're checking out fall fashions or Halloween costumes, you like to see people dressing for the season. Whether you're in the city or the country, this time of year gives you plenty to look at.

What's Your Autumn Sense?

Blogthings: Quizzes and Tests and Memes, Oh My!

25 things about me...

1) I was born with clubbed feet. I spent the first year of my life in corrective shoe/braces.
2) Pomegranate is my favorite fruit. I don't like bananas.
3) Reality TV is my favorite. Top Chef, What Not To Wear, Big Brother, American Idol... I love them all!
4) I wish I had a dog.
5) I lie on my left side to fall asleep.
6) One foot always escapes the covers during the night.
7) I was vegetarian for six years. Now I'm an omnivore.
8) I would like to get one more tattoo. I just don't know what.
9) Reading has always been my favorite pastime.
10) I don't like marshmallows.
11) Laughing makes my day. It's the best thing about teaching.
12) I don't often re-read books.
13) I love watching movies more than once.
14) U2 has been my favorite band since 1983. I hope to see them in concert someday. But the crowds make me nervous, so I don't know.
15) Travel is the best adventure. I am a great travel partner.
16) I hate talking on the phone.
17) Heat & humidity bother me--physically, emotionally and spiritually.
18) I have never cooked on a grill. I'm kinda scared of them, to be truthful.
19) Pedicures are my guilty pleasure.
20) People Magazine is my other guilty pleasure.
21) I love to cook and bake but rarely do.
22) This school year, I've been writing a haiku a day.
23) I drink a lot of water. I don't like it cold.
24) As I get older, I get more set in my ways. I don't like my ways to change.
25) I'm usually reading two books at the same time. Usually a fiction and a non-fiction.

falllll...

Had a really good therapy session today. I'm starting to feel my fall funk coming on. Started using my Ott lite. Hopefully I'll feel it.

ten things tuesday...

THE OTHER TEN COMMANDMENTS
(Author Unknown)

1. Thou shall not worry, for worry is the most unproductive of all human activities.

2. Thou shall not be fearful, for most of the things we fear never come to pass.

3. Thou shall not cross bridges before you come to them, for no one yet has succeeded in accomplishing this.

4. Thou shall face each problem as it comes. You can only handle one at a time anyway.

5. Thou shall not take problems to bed with you, for they make very poor bedfellows.

6. Thou shall not borrow other people's problems. They can better care for them than you can.

7. Thou shall not try to relive yesterday for good or ill, it is forever gone. Concentrate on what is happening in your life and be happy now!

8. Thou shall be a good listener, for only when you listen do you hear ideas different from your own. It is hard to learn something new when you are talking, and some people do know more than you do.

9. Thou shall not become "bogged down" by frustration, for 90% of it is rooted in self-pity and will only interfere with positive action.

10. Thou shall count thy blessings, never overlooking the small ones, for a lot of small blessings add up to a big one!

just another manic monday...

# 186

How do you define honesty? being true to yourself and your word

What is the main thing that makes you unique? my quirky sense of humor

What is your biggest fear or worry? oh, the usual: $ or not having enough of it

postsecret

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people
mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard. I like to post one that speaks to me each week. I'm lovin' the new book!

i say... and you think...?

1. Werewolf :: myth
2. Jim :: Jimmy-James
3. 2x4 :: 8
4. Unruly :: wild & crazy
5. Component :: part
6. Prolific :: abundant
7. Wrestler :: wrestlemania
8. Huh? :: Wha?
9. Dolls :: Barbie
10. Super! :: Wow!



#351

sunday stealing

(click the icon to play along)

Sunday Stealing: The ABCs of Meme

A- Advocate for: civil rights

B- Best Feature: integrity

C- Could do without: procrastination

D- Dreams and desires: love & peace

E- Essential items: laptop & coffee

F- Favorite past time: laptop

G- Good at: teaching

H- Have never tried: skydiving

I- If I had a million dollars: I would start a charitable foundation

J- Junkie for: reality t.v.

K- Kindred spirit: Oprah

L- Little known fact: Maine is the only state with a one-syllable name

M- Memorable moment: college

N- Never again will I: be young

O- Occasional indulgence: sleeping in

P- Profession: edumacator

Q- Quote: “I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see.” ~John Burroughs

R- Reason to smile: being alive

S- Sorry about: regaining the weight

T- Things you are worrying about right now: $$

U- Uninterested in: Fox News' ridiculousness

V- Very scared of: failure

W- Worst habits: sloth

Y- Yummiest dessert: chocolate cake

X- X marks my ideal vacation spot: Europe, I realize it's a continent, but...

Z- Zodiac sign: Scorpio

what should you nickname your boobs?

As seen at Endomental... in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month:

You Should Call Your Boobs "Heaven & Hell"

Sexy!

What Should You Nickname Your Boobs?

Blogthings: 100's of Fun, Free Quizzes and 3 Stupid Ones

saturday 9

Inside Job

1. When you were young, what did you want to be when you grew up? happy

2. Did you ever pursue that career? I didn't think in terms of career

3. If you are not in that field, what changed? I suppose I am

4. What is your current job? I teach high school social studies

5. What's the best part of what you do? creativity... and laughing every day

6. Do you have plans to do something else down the road? no, but I think I should

7. How did you get your present job? If you are a stay at home mom, how long did you need to plan that move? I actually got hired to teach part-time social studies, part-time English/Language Arts as a one-year position but during that year, a social studies teacher retired and I got moved into that position

8. Did your parents influence your choices of jobs over the years? not so much telling me what to do, but my dad was a high school English/Language Arts teacher

9. What advice would you give your children on careers? make sure there is room to grow as a person

first word meme

20 Random First Word That Comes To Mind Questions

Balloon: pop

Fish: Danny Ocean Fish

Sushi: mmmmmm

Book: love to read

Feet: pedicure

Hot: humid

Moon: night

Metal: heavy

Sweet: sticky

Pen: write

Penguin: happy

Catch: capture

Vegas: Viva

Nails: manicure

Map: orient

Tahiti: vacation

Water: drink

Opera: aria

Cowboy: rodeo

Autumn: fall

friday fill-in

# 146

1. So are we going to have an adventure this weekend?

2. Winter is what's up ahead.

3. I love to goof on the computer.

4. I must hear music of some sort.

5. I walk a lot during the school day.

6. Love is the true elixir of life!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to unwinding from a hectic week, tomorrow my plans include running a few errands and Sunday, I want to get ready for school!

no rest for the weary...

Holy moly, I can't unwind. My day has been action-packed from 6:52 am when I left for school until 9:20 pm when I finally got home from school. Meetings and meetings and meetings. And now I'm wound up.

Must. Sleep. Now. Please?

thursday bug

Sometimes it helps to share with others what bugs your mind.

They may have a solution, a kind word, or a smile of encouragement.

This week my thursday bug is:

Endless meetings.

just a meme...

1. What is the color of your toothbrush? blue and white

2. Name one person who made you smile today. my neighbor

3. What were you doing at 8 am this morning? I was at a special ed meeting

4. What were you doing 45 minutes ago? watching Oprah

5. What is your favorite candy bar? Reese's and occasionally snickers

6. Have you ever been to a strip club? nope

7. What is the last thing you said aloud? good night

8. What is your favorite ice cream? Ben & Jerry's Wavy Gravy

9. What was the last thing you had to drink? water

10. Do you like your wallet? love it

11. What was the last thing you ate? a slice of roast beef

12. Have you bought any new clothing items this week? no

13. The last sporting event you watched? hmmm I can't remember

14. What is your favorite flavor of popcorn? buttery and salty

15. Who is the last person you sent a text message to? I was IM with my nephew earlier this evening

16. Ever go camping? years ago

17. Do you take vitamins daily? yes

18. Do you go to church every Sunday? no, I don't go at all

19. Do you have a tan? bwahahahaha

20. Do you prefer Chinese food over pizza? no, pizza rules

21. Do you drink your soda with a straw? it's my preference

22. What did your last text message say? "that's news to me"

23. What are you doing tomorrow? teaching all day and meetings all afternoon with negotiations in the evening

24. Favorite color? beige and greens

25. Look to your left; what do you see? my old tv

26. What color is your watch? invisible colored

27. What do you think of when you hear “Australia”? Hugh Jackman

28. Would you strip for money? strip what?

29.Do you go in a fast food place or just hit the drive thru? I like to eat at home, so the drive thru

30. What is your favorite number? 3

31. Who’s the last person you talked to on the phone? Daddy

32. Any plans today? uhm... the internet people came and hooked me up

33. In how many states have you lived? 1

34. Biggest annoyance right now? I'm cold

35. Last song listened to? Who's Loving You

36. Can you say the alphabet backwards? yes

37. Do you have a maid service clean your house? uhm... only in my dreams

38. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time? my spangled flip flops

39. Are you jealous of anyone? no

40. Is anyone jealous of you? yes

41. Do you love anyone? I love lots of people

42. Do any of your friends have children? most of them do

43. What do you usually do during the day? teach

44. Do you hate anyone that you know right now? no

45. Do you use the word ‘hello’ daily? many times

46. What color is your car? grey

47. What size wedding ring do you wear? I don't have a wedding ring

48. Are you thinking about someone right now? not so much

49. Have you ever been to Six Flags? nope

50. How did you get your worst scar? I don't really have a worst scar... but probably from falling on my face, I cut my lip

testing, testing...

Today was a testing day. I had to administer the PSAT to my homeroom for three hours this morning. What a freakin' drag. At least I have a kickass homeroom.

what autumn drink are you?

You Are a Pumpkin Latte

You are a total homebody. You love the fall because it gives you an excuse to stay home a little more often and be cozy. Fall is your favorite time to cook a pie, read a good book, or watch your favorite movie. You're the type who prefers handing out candy at Halloween and hosting Thanksgiving at your place. You have a lot of different autumn activities, and they all take place inside the comfort of your home.

What Autumn Drink Are You?

Blogthings: Cheaper Than a Therapist

whining already

It's no real surprise to anyone who knows me that I don't enjoy winter. Winter lasts too long here in Northern Maine and it's coming way too soon this year. Looks like our temps are in the 40s this week. Gah! It's too early to be whining about winter!!!!!

ten things tuesday...

Awhile ago, I did a TTT post about bad habits. Now it's time for good habits.

1) Breakfast. I may not eat every meal every day but I always have a good breakfast.

2) Reading. I read something every single day. Doesn't matter what it is, I read it.

3) Organizing. I'm super-organized at school. Not only folders but I've got a simple filing system. And I rarely lose anything. It's my reputation.

4) Letter writing. I love to write letters and send thank you notes, for little things.

5) Drinking water. I drink a half-gallon to a gallon daily.

6) Keeping up with the Senators. It was a New Year's Resolution a few years ago to become more politically active and I write to my Senators and Representatives regularly.

7) Friendliness. Regardless of my mood, I greet my students at the door, call them by name and have a friendly expression on my face as other students walk by. It's important to recognize them and acknowledge them.

8) Smellgood. I love using coordinating layers of fragrance. And not overpowering, either. It makes me happy when people tell me I smell good.

9) Neighborliness. I'm an excellent tenant and neighbor. Not demanding, laid back and I love giving holiday goodies.

10) Alphabetizing. I love to organize and create order. CDs, videos, books, you name it, I like to alphabetize.

back to life, back to reality...

It's the end of vacation. I completely wasted the day. I've done nothing productive, although I did try to set up a wireless router but was unsuccessful. I didn't nap.

Here's the song that's running through my head. At least the first minute or so.

just another manic monday

# 185

What word describes you best? probably independent

What drives you every day? the possibilities of each day

Where do you want to retire? someplace warmer than here!

give me five monday

# 54
Becca's back!!

Give Me Five favorite or un-favorite things to shop for.

1) Clothes shopping is so much fun. I love putting new pieces into my existing wardrobe. And accessories--don't even get me started on accessories!!

2) Book shopping is a blast. Online or in person, I adore looking at titles, covers and reading snippets.

3) Although I love shoes, I don't like shoe shopping. I've always had edema in my ankles, maybe it's from having clubbed feet at birth, and it's hard to find shoes that fit well.

4) Presents for other people. I really love picking the perfect gift for people.

5) Music. Discovering a new album by a favorite band is such fun. Going to a music store and listening to all the different bands used to be my hobby. Now we don't have any real music stores around. I miss it. Going to a mass retailer doesn't have the same flavor.

good times...

Spent some quality time with the family this evening. Relatives from out of town and the parentals. Gathered 'round the pellet stove. Yup, it's pellet stove time. Anyhow, we had a lot of fun talking and laughing.

i say... and you think...?

1. My treat :: always a thrill
2. Bell :: ring
3. Five :: five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
4. You’re crazy! :: like a fox
5. Disgust :: contempt
6. Tempest :: in a teapot
7. Bummer :: dude
8. Brim :: to the top
9. Hose :: sucker
10. Lollipop :: oh, lolli, lollipop


#350

sunday stealing

(click the icon to play along)

Sunday Stealing: The Magical Mystery Tour Meme

1. Is there anybody you just wish would fall off the planet? some of the talking head TV personalities who pass themselves off as journalists

2. How do you flush the toilet in public? usually with my foot, if I can reach

3. Do you wear your seatbelt in the car? always

4. Do you have a crush on someone? George

5. Name one thing you worry about running out of. toilet paper

6. What famous person do you (or other people) think you resemble? nobody

7. What is your favourite pizza topping? pepperoni

8. Do you crack your knuckles? not so much

9. What song do you hate the most? the most?? Happy Birthday, I guess. It annoys me... no one sings it well.

10. Did just mentioning that song make it get stuck in your head? nope

11. What are your super powers? super lazyassness

12. Peppermint or spearmint? peppermint

13. Where are your car keys? in my purse

14. Last song you listened to? "If You Go Away" from the new Barbra Streisand album

15. What's your most annoying habit? hoarding

16. Where did you last go on vacation? Pennsylvania & Virginia

17. What is your best physical feature? my hair

18. What CD is closest to you right now? The Ocean Blue: Beneath the Rhythm And Sound

19. What 3 things can always be found in your refrigerator? jug of water, orange juice, jelly

20. What superstition do you believe/practice? I sometimes knock wood

21. What colour are your bed sheets? plaid

22. Would you rather be a fish or a bird? fish

23. Last thing you broke? I don't even remember

24. What are you having to eat tonight? pizza

25. What colour shirt are you wearing? green and brown paisley

26. If you could be doing anything else today, what would you rather be doing? nothing else I would rather be doing

27. Do security cameras make you nervous? not so much

28. If you wrote a book about your life, what would the title be? What If This Is As Good As It Gets

29. Last time you went to a cemetery? a couple years ago

30. Last concert you went to? Montana Skies

31. Favourite musician(s)/bands you've seen in concert? James Taylor

32. Next concert you're planning to attend? something around the holidays

33. Do you talk to yourself? not out loud

34. Have you ever adopted or purchased a pet? sure have

35. Have you ever been present when an animal is being born? no

who knew?

The Peculiar Pain of Paper Cuts
Experts Offer Theories on How Such Little Cuts Can Hurt So Much
By LAUREN COX
ABC News Medical Unit
Feb. 8, 2008—

They always strike when least expected opening the mail, rummaging through notes, and in an instant, it's "ouch!" and you're sucking air in through your teeth.

Oh, the paper cut. Since the dawn of office work, it has been the one thing that can make even the most composed business person spew profanities. Somehow, that little cut stings more than any other nick and it keeps hurting, too.

But why? Theories of office lore circulate the Internet from the microscopic structure of paper, to the chemicals used in paper plants, to bacteria living on our faxes.

While dermatologists know which theories are wrong, the most annoying pain in the office still remains a bit of a medical mystery.


Hogging the Nerves
"Nobody really knows the answer," says Dr. Joseph Eastern, a dermatologist in private practice in Belleville, N.J. But, Eastern adds, there are a few good theories.

The first culprit would be our hands' nociceptors the nerve fibers that send touch and pain messages to our brain, particularly the somatosensory cortex.

The hands hog more nociceptors than the arms, the legs, or the stomach, as a way to protect us.

"If we touch something hot or sharp, or in anyway painful, we are most likely to do it with our hands and so, our hands should be a great judge of those bad or painful things," says Dr. Mark Abdelmalek, chief of laser and dermatologic surgery at Drexel University College of Medicine.

"If you had a paper cut on your thigh, it wouldn't hurt nearly as bad because the thigh doesn't deserve all that attention in the brain's somatosensory cortex," he says.

But the strategic concentration of nerves on our hands doesn't explain why paper cuts instantly sting in a way other scrapes and cuts on our hands do not.

To explain that, people often turn to the weapon paper.


Don't Blame Just Hands, Blame Paper
Internet forum posts are full of blame for paper, and most are a little off the mark.

One frequent claim is that paper is porous, and therefore, a better host to bacteria than the clean surface of a razor or a knife. Cut yourself with paper, and you'll leave behind debris and bacteria to sting you.

But dermatologists don't always agree.

"Number one, bacteria don't cause pain," says Eastman. "You get pain with an infection, because your skin is inflamed, trying to fight off bacteria, but bacteria doesn't cause pain."

Second, says Eastman, "I don't know that there's any evidence that paper leaves behind more dirt and bugs than anything else you cut yourself with."

However, paper is still part of the problem. Paper is sharp, but it's duller than knives and razors. It's also more flimsy than needles and rocks. Unfortunately, for office workers, the combination of paper's unique qualities results in awful cuts.


The Perfect Painful Cut
The flexible, relatively dull edge of paper means paper cuts never go very deep. But while a dull, shallow cut sounds less painful, pain specialists say it's worse.

First, the dull edge of the paper is more likely to rip flesh than tear it. "This means paper could do more microscopic damage," says Eastman.

The microscopic damage hits the most sensitive nerves, too. The concentrated nerves on the hands have a very low threshold to activate and send a signal to the brain, says Dr. Carmen R. Green, associate professor of pain medicine at the University of Michigan.

Meanwhile, larger nerves, which send dull aching pain, are tucked safely away deeper in the flesh. "Sometimes, you can slice your finger open and it looks bad, but it doesn't hurt that much," says Green.

So, since a paper cut is shallow, and unlikely to bleed a lot, it will more likely sting, instead of produce a dull throb. Unfortunately, the shallow cut only brings more bad news.

Because paper cuts are shallow, they are less likely to bleed, clot and seal up the wound with a scab. That means the raw nerves are open to the air, and keep sending new messages of pain to the brain.


What To Do
Cover the cut. Sealing the wound will stimulate fewer pain receptors, and it will help the cut heal, says Dr. Nicole Neuschler, assistant professor of dermatology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York.

"People often don't try to seal the wound," says Neuchler. "But it could be as simple as Vaseline, liquid bandage, Super Glue or Crazy Glue."


Copyright © 2008 ABC News Internet Ventures

now playing...

One of the ultimate chick flicks. Is on Bravo tonight. Beautiful, beautiful Brad Pitt.

saturday 9

Lie to Me


1. Can you tell when someone is lying to you? it depends on the situation... with students, I'm pretty accurate... otherwise, I don't think I'm with people who need to lie to me

2. Tell us about one of your flaws. Do you live with it or try to correct it? one of my flaws is hoarding... and yes, I live with it

3. When was the last time you laughed hard and what struck you as funny? my sister and I were chatting on Facebook yesterday and she cracked me up... I can't even remember what it was about now, I just remember laughing out loud

4. Tell us about a time when you should have tried harder. I have perfectionism issues... so I say I can always try harder at everything

5. If you won the lottery, what would you buy first? new furniture

6. What movie do you know every word to? probably the Princess Bride, it's my go-to movie for everything

7. What was the best thing that happened to you this week? hanging with my friends

8. What was the worst thing that happened to you this week? a very intense meeting

9. What do you think is the biggest difference between men and women? perspective

just finished reading...

Another great thriller, probably less controversial than DaVinci Code was, but fast-paced and kept me up til the wee hours to finish. Many improbable situations and close calls but the unlikely hero, Robert Langdon (I couldn't get Tom Hanks out of my mind) pulls it all together. A satisfying rainy-day read, that's for sure.

I hope they make a tour of the buildings in DC based on this book, that would be cool.

just love him...

curling up...

It's a dreary day, again. And it's the end of vacation. Methinks it's time to curl up with a good book. Luckily, I have just the book.

friday fill-in

# 145

1. Sweet dreams are made of this.

2. My life is especially for me.

3. Silliness has a time and place at school.

4. Good candy for this Halloween.

5. Outstanding or not I tried.

6. A massage is what I want right now!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Chinese food, tomorrow my plans include hangin' with my bestie and Sunday, I want to have an adventure!

as seen at McSweeney's...

YouTube Comment or
e. e. cummings?

BY FRANÇOIS VINCENT

- - - -

1. loog a his lirow nose

2. there is some shit I will not eat

3. LISN bud LISN

4. this i bad sorry to saY

5. leave her alone
she's not your gal

6. She is Lucifierian !

7. THuNdeRB
loSSo!M iN

8. aThe):l

9. stunned. i. am. stunned. every question speaks to us

10. What is nothing?

YouTube comment: 1, 4, 6, 9, 10
e. e. cummings: 2, 3, 5, 7, 8

almost over...

I've got the end of vacation blues. Wanting to pack more into every day but also wanting to take it easy. It will be good to get back into the routine of school even though I've got some really difficult mixes of students this year. When I went in Monday, I put up a new bulletin board and shuffled papers around enough so that I know my plans are in place for next week. I'm ready but I don't want to go. Isn't that always the way?

thursday bug

Sometimes it helps to share with others what bugs your mind.

They may have a solution, a kind word, or a smile of encouragement.

This week my thursday bug is:

Having something stuck in my teeth when I'm in public.

what autumn smell are you?

You Are Warm Apple Cider

You love to feel warm and full. You love all the small comforts that come with fall. Unlike most people, you are as active in fall as you are in the summer. You just make sure and keep warm. For you, fall is the perfect time of year to visit cafes or go for long walks. The season makes you feel energized. You love the bustle of everyone being back from the summer vacation and back to work.

What Autumn Smell Are You?

Blogthings: 100's of Fun, Free Quizzes and 3 Stupid Ones

what pumpkin treat are you?

You Are Pumpkin Bread

You are considerate and generous. Your heart warms when you're able to do something unexpectedly nice for someone else. You know it can be a cold world out there, and you have plenty of happiness to spread around. You try to give as much as possible every day, and you know that small acts of kindness can often mean the much. Whether you're being a good listener or sharing a slice of your pumpkin bread, people feel lucky to be able to count on you.

What Pumpkin Treat Are You?

Blogthings: If Quizzes Are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Take Quizzes

breakthrough

BC scientists first in world to decode genetic evolution of a breast
cancer tumour

VANCOUVER, Oct. 7 /PRNewswire/ - For the first time in history, BC Cancer Agency scientists in British Columbia, Canada have decoded all of the three billion letters in the DNA sequence of a metastatic lobular breast cancer tumour, a type of breast cancer which accounts for about 10 per cent of all breast cancers, and have found all of the mutations, or "spelling" mistakes that caused the cancer to spread.

The landmark study, which will be published October 8th as the cover story in the prestigious international science journal Nature, helps unlock the secrets of how cancer begins and spreads, thus pointing the way to the development of new breast cancer treatment targets and therapies.

"One in nine women is expected to develop breast cancer, and breast cancer accounts for 29 per cent of all cancer diagnoses for B.C. women," said Health Services Minister Kevin Falcon. "As a result of the efforts of the scientists behind the study, this breakthrough finding gives further hope to the thousands of women with this terrible disease."

"I never thought I would see this in my lifetime," said Dr. Samuel Aparicio, head of the breast cancer research program at the BC Cancer Agency, an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA). "This is a watershed event in our ability to understand the causes of breast cancer and to develop personalized medicines for our patients. The number of doors that can now be opened to future research is considerable."

Partnering with the BC Cancer Agency's Genome Sciences Centre, Dr. Aparicio's team used the latest in next-generation DNA sequencing technology to study the evolution of a single patient's lobular breast cancer tumour over a nine-year interval. They found 32 mutations in the metastatic cancer tumour and then looked to see how many of those same spelling mistakes were present in the original tumour. The result was surprising - only five of the 32 could have been present in all of the cells of the primary tumour, thus fingering them as the criminals that caused the disease to get started in the first place. These five mutations were previously unknown to researchers as playing a role in cancer.

"This study demonstrates the remarkable capacity of next-generation DNA sequencing technology," says Dr. Marco Marra, Director, BC Cancer Agency's Genome Sciences Centre. "The project that decoded the first human genome in 2001 took years and an enormous amount of funding. We were able to sequence the breast cancer genome in weeks and at a fraction of the cost."

"Through our research at the BC Cancer Agency, we are dedicated to finding new and novel ways to detect cancer earlier and to develop more enhanced treatments," said Brian Schmidt, Interim President, BC Cancer Agency and Senior Vice President, Provincial Services, Population and Public Health, PHSA. "This discovery is a wonderful example of how investment in research is helping to pave the way toward better outcomes for cancer patients in the future."

The discovery is not only a major scientific milestone for the BC Cancer Agency, an acknowledged world leader in cancer research care, but also a significant testimony to the power of philanthropy invested in science to fuel cancer research and drive new discoveries.

"The BC Cancer Foundation, as the fundraising arm of the agency, has raised over $15 million to support breast cancer research at the BC Cancer Agency across the province, including Dr. Aparicio's program, through its Weekend to End Breast Cancer walk," said BC Cancer Foundation President and CEO Douglas Nelson. "We are very grateful to the many thousands of British Columbians who have walked, donated and supported The Weekend to End Breast Cancer over the past six years. To everyone who has walked or contributed we can confidently say your efforts have made a difference - you are a partner in this remarkable achievement."

The BC Cancer Foundation founded the BC Cancer Agency's Genome Sciences Centre, the Centre for Translational and Applied Genomics at the BC Cancer Agency, and the BC Cancer Agency's Breast Cancer Outcomes Unit, all of which played a key role in the study. The research was conducted in the BC Cancer Agency's research centre in Vancouver, which was constructed by the BC Cancer Foundation, with donor and provincial and federal government funding.

The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, BC/Yukon Region supported a key member of Dr. Aparicio's research team through a bioinformatics fellowship. Other funders and supporters include the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, Genome Canada and Genome BC, the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, and the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research.

Dr. Aparicio was recruited in 2005 from Cambridge University, UK to develop a breast cancer research program in British Columbia at the BC Cancer Agency. He holds the Nan and Lorraine Robertson Chair in Breast Cancer Research at the University of British Columbia (UBC), the Canada Research Chair in Molecular Oncology and is a professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at UBC.

The BC Cancer Agency is committed to reducing the incidence of cancer, reducing the mortality from cancer and improving the quality of life of those living with cancer. It provides a comprehensive cancer control program by working with community partners to deliver a range of oncology services, including prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, research, education, supportive care, rehabilitation and palliative care. The BC Cancer Foundation raises funds to support research and enhancements to patient care at the BC Cancer Agency throughout B.C.

High-resolution photos, video and audio playback of today's
teleconference are available for download at:

http://www.bccancerfoundation.com/cms/page1506.cfm

Other information sources:

- BC Cancer Agency information on breast cancer:
http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/PPI/TypesofCancer/Breast/default.htm

- BC Cancer Agency Molecular Oncology Department:
http://molonc.bccrc.ca/

- BC Cancer Agency Genome Sciences Centre (GSC): http://bcgsc.ca/

- BC Cancer Agency next-generation sequencing information:
http://molonc.bccrc.ca/?page_id=191

- Nature: www.nature.com

- NCI (US) General cancer info: http://www.cancer.gov/ and breast
cancer info: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/breast

- NCIC / Canadian Cancer Society:
http://www.cancer.ca/research/?sc_lang=en, with breast
cancer info at:
http://www.cancer.ca/canada-wide/about%20cancer/types%20of%20cancer/what%20is%20breast%20cancer.aspx?sc_lang=en

- CBCF BC/Yukon Region: http://www.cbcf.org/en-US/bc%20yukon.aspx

SOURCE BC Cancer Foundation

imagine this letter home....

Pupils take their own toilet roll

A cash-strapped school in County Cork has asked pupils to bring in their own toilet paper.

Parents of pupils at St John's Girls National School in Carrigaline received a letter with the request last week.

Principal Catherine O'Neill wrote: "Dear parent, from time to time we will request your daughter to bring in a toilet roll to her class teacher.

"These rolls will be specifically for your daughter's class and will be dispensed by the class teacher."

She added: "We would also request that your daughter has tissues in her sack at all times."

The Republic of Ireland's public finances have been battered in the economic downturn, and education has not escaped unscathed.

Ms O'Neill said the voluntary measure was taken because of cutbacks.

"We are endeavouring to trim down expenses and ensure we use our grants towards the educational needs of your child," she said.

The notoriously poor quality of some school toilet paper has long been the butt of many jokes, but the move angered some parents who expressed surprise that the school had been caught short of funding.


Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/europe/8292310.stm