100 Impressions in under 5 minutes

Found this while browsing throug You Tube with a friend:

Now THAT'S a title...

South African Hollywood hero swaps bombs for orphans

Certainly caught my attention.

In other news....

Bowling went well this past Sunday - I bowled way above my average on all three games and we won all three games and overall points (of course).

LOTS of meetings this week - one at 4:30-... today and I'm supposed to TA at 6pm for ASL. I missed ASL last week because I was training in a new worker. Anxious to start signing again!

My schedule looks INSANE! and I've got a 2-page to-do list.

I'm already closing the computer lab one hour a week because I don't have anyone to work and I just received a message from another worker who can't work one hour on Monday. I can't work it because *hopefully* I'll be subbing. So... time to beg other workers to take the hour.

No slacking this semester!

Oddly enough... compared to a week ago I'm not stressed at all.

It's all a matter of perspective.

I left my brain in Texas...

I feel like the Scarecrow... "If I only had a brain..."

I mean really....

If this is what happens when I take a month off from the real world, I really shouldn't do that anymore.

Today I forgot my work keys at home - which meant no getting into my office where my school books, notebook and pens were. Duh. So I borrowed a pen and notepad from the Ed Office and made do. Luckily we didn't take any notes :) Yay! for group work.

This is just the latest in a series of forgetfull-nesses... uhm...
Brain farts.

Ah well.

I'll get back into the swing of things soon (hopefully).

Also... *hangs head in shame* I caved today... I got a vanilla frappaccino... *frown* I could barely keep my eyes open this morning... I neeeeded a fix. Maybe the lack of caffeine led to my forgetting my keys... yes this seems plausible... so I need to drink coffee... but I shouldn't... I had 9 days coffee-free and now I'm back to 0. Apparently I can't quit cold-turkey.

House Party 2007

So yeah...

There's a prof in the Ed Dept - a friend of mine - and she has a House Concert every year.

I went 2 years ago when it was all family and friends performing. This year the performers were friends of hers from Kansas and at the end they did a 3rd set with lots of family and friend performers.

I didn't get home until after 2am (again - same as 2 years ago) but it was so worth it.

Sunday night was my first time back at bowling. It'd been 5 weeks and I was RUSTY! By the last game I was finally back to my average though.

Uhmm.... Again. Reallllly happy I survived yesterday. Though I totally spaced this morning - got a call at 8:15am asking me where I was... was sposed to be training in a new worker in the comp lab. I appologized profusely and he said not-to-worry, but yikes! I feel bad :(
Also ran out of the house this morning without several things I needed *sigh* ah well :)

"...and that's when he knew...

he was in the mouth of a shark."

I really don't know what to say about this Shark Attack...

Really lucky guy.

The Queen of Worry

(see previous post)

I was so freaking stressed about today and worried about whether I would have any/enough volunteers.... I hardly slept at all last night and my stomach was hurting and UGH.

I need to stop doing that.

I even called my mom at 7:20 this morning to hear her tell me it would all be ok. I needed to hear her say that. And she did, cuz she's an awesome Mommy and knows exactly what I need to hear.

I got there at 7:30am and was the first one. I waited around for 10 mins then went and set up my lab (Dr. M ROCKS!) and then came back to the Beaux Arts Ballroom to wait and see if any volunteers would show up. I wound up with close to 20 in the morning, another 15-20 mid-day and about 30 for the afternoon. A verrrry respectable turn-out.

With a little help from an experienced prof I figured out how to get each section of the day organized and I had a volunteer (I sort of knew from class) help organize things while I was doing my presentations. I had plenty of help in my presentations thanks to a prof/friend of mine and one of the volunteers who knew iMovie.

It all worked out extermely well!

I even had time to clean up Beau Arts while they were in their last sessions - so I was outta there by 2:30pm!

Rock on.

And I was so stressed.... *snort*

Why do I do that?

Cuz I'm the "Queen of Worry".

More to come later - on a House Concert I went to this past Saturday night!!!

"Big Eye - Overactive Brain - Worry - Stress"

Whatever you call it, that's what I've got.
I went to bed at 10:30 - fell asleep sometime after 12:30 - woke up at 4:30... don't have to be up until 7:30, but I can't get back to sleep.

Bah!

I'm stressing about this volunteer event Monday and about not having enough coverage in the Computer Lab.

I know I'll survive the volunteer thing (at least I think I will - positive attitude). I'm just nervous because it's something new and I have an important job - coordinating all the volunteers and I'm presenting a workshop.
But I will survive.

As for not having enough coverage in the lab.... it's only 2 hours on Tuesday and nobody is screaming at me - they understand. Whether the students understand or not... that is another question.

TO DO:

9am - 11am - Ed Dept Meeting
11am - 12pm - Home for lunch
12pm - 3pm? - Import video for iMovie workshop
Call rest of volunteers
Prepare for workshops
Print handout
House Concert Sat night!!!
Get books
Log-on to online class
Change all printed schedules (mine & lab)
Finish unpacking from trip
Straighten up apt (looks like a tornado's been through here)

On the plus side - it's good to be back in MN - and there is snow - Finally!
Oooh and I got this new cordless keyboard and mouse for Christmas and I got it hooked up last night. It's crazy-fancy - the keyboard has a lcd screen and all sorts of controls... I can check my email, change my music, chat, it shows in print on the screen when the caps lock is on/off, I can zoom/enlarge the text on the screen (so I can be across the room reading).... and I dunno what else. That's all I've had time to figure out so far :)

K.... gonna take a shower and get ready for this too-early day.

*mutter: definitely too early, just posted this to blogs & wiki daybook*
hehehe

For crying out loud!

I mean seriously!

10:47 pm - Land to hugs from Aya and D
11:15 pm - Enter apt
11:30 pm - Loud bass music from my neighbors
12:40 am - Call law enforcement about noise violation
1:20 am - Police arrive and speak to neighbor
1:30 am - Pass out
7:50 am - Dad calls to inform me I left a day too early - they have SNOW
9:00 am - Mom calls me to ask computer questions

11:00 am - I finally get out of bed

*grin*

Seriously though... I went over 4 times in 2 weeks before I left for Texas. I've been gone a month and come home to their blaring music. I'd had enough. I was exhausted from travelling and all I wanted to do was climb into my nice warm bed and pass out. Hopefully they got the point this time.

And as for Texas snow.... *grumble* Well check out THIS VIDEO. Keep in mind that this part of Texas rarely gets storms like this - and they had an ice storm this past weekend. There's still ice in lots of places and this snow is building on top of it. Not only is this very unusual for them, it's very dangerous because people aren't used to driving in this kind of condition.

But it is funny to compare people's reactions to weather like this depending on where they live.... I've seen it -60 with "Don't go outside or your skin will freeze" warnings and this MN University was still open. With TX, any small amount of frozen percipitation and EVERYTHING closes. I kind of miss those days!

MSP

So apparently the airline/airport/security people at DFW let the Army guys mom, dad, sister and brother come to the gate to say goodbye to him. I didn’t think they ever let non-passenger people come to the gate now-a-days…. maybe they were flying somewhere else? but the didn’t look like it.
In any case…. the Mom was squeezing the stuffing out of her son. The Dad was looking down at the ground while his wife hugged her son… It was really heart-wrenching.

Tall-blue-eyed guy did have an exit row seat :)

On the plane I sat next to (with an empty seat between us) a man named Godwin. Interesting guy. He’s a medical practitioner from Nigeria who spent the last month vacationing in America. He went to California, Washington, Oregon, Georgia and Texas. He was heading home, via MSP and then Amsterdam.

This lay-over is only an hour long, so not a lot of time to type. There’s snow here in MSP – though word on the street is there’s none back home.

DFW

I’m writing this email while sitting in Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport.

Airports are great places for people watching….

There’s an older lady to my right who’s right hand is shaking horribly as she holds her magazine…. Parkinsons?

There’s the guy I saw checking in before me with piercing blue eyes. I almost come to his shoulders and he’s toothpick-thin. *goggle* I’m 6’ 1”….. and I come to his shoulders…. almost. Hope he has an exit row seat.

The two flight attendants to my left are engaged in an animated discussion, but I have no idea what they’re saying. I’ve got my headphones on, listening to Regina Spektor.

There’s a young man in desert fatigues kissing (what looks to be) his younger brother on the forhead….

Ewww the guy digging for gold…. ugh…. must be really stuck up there…. *cringe*

3 out of 30 people around me on cell phones – I’m surprised the number’s so low. If you’ve flown anywhere in the last few years you’ve probably noticed (and may in fact be one of ) the people who whip out their cell phone and turn it on before the plane doors are even open. Often they’re telling someone that their plane has landed and they’ll see them soon…

I like to make up stories about people I see in airports. Who are they? Where are they going – or coming back from? There are always loads of business people and I like to guess at what they do for a living. It gives me something to do when stuck in an airport for hours at a time. In 2006 I flew 6 different times. Not a lot by some standards, but enough that I’m bored with flying – don’t get me wrong though, it definitely beats driving 22 hours! *UGH*

I wonder what other people think of me sitting here (looking like a total bum) in my most comfortable (comfort is key when traveling) long-sleeve shirt, jeans, laptop with headphones on – occasionally mouthing along to my music.

It’s still rather cool in Texas – mid 20’s to low 30’s. Cool enough that there is still ice all over the place, though thankfully the roads are clear. The locals are fully bundled with hats, scarves, gloves, jackets and such…. I’m walking around in a long-sleeve shirt. *chuckle* MN has spoiled me.

Hmmmm I’m a local…. but I’m not really.... but I may be again….

I’m having issues with my lack of future plans. I’m extremely lucky to have so many options and opportunities ahead of me. I’m very thankful for that, but in the sense that I’m a total-control-freak-who-needs-to-know-who-what-where-when-why-and-how…. yeah I’m having issues. I so need to take a chill pill.

Go with the flow.

Enjoy my last year in MN.

/sigh

It was easier when it was still “next year” but now it’s “this year” and it does change my perspective.

Almost boarding time. Gonna pack it up – maybe I’ll continue this totally random post in MSP….

It's herrrre!

The ice.
The forcast was for "three waves": Friday night, Saturday and Sunday night.
And this third wave (the one going on right now) is supposed to be the worst.
Church services all over the metroplex were cancelled this morning and most schools that weren't already scheduled to be closed tomorrow (due to the holiday) are now either opening late ore closing.

Hummmm.....

If it's still nasty tomorrow my parents will most likely close their shop and stay home.
Which means an extra day with them :) so yay for that.

Ice Storm

That's what they keep saying.
It was supposed to be really nasty last night - woke up and found it hadn't reached freezing temps so all was well.
Rainy day today.
Stuffs frozen now and the forcast says more freezing percipitation tomorrow and into Monday.

But what about Tuesday?
As in the day I'm scheduled to fly back to MN?

Guess we'll see come Tuesday.

For now, more pictures....
These realllllly old pictures aren't in very good condition, which is sad.
I'm related to all these people through my Dad's mom.







This one's my favourite. Real-live wagoneers :)

Old Polaroid Pictures

These are from a trip my Dad took a long time ago....

Yellowstone Lodge:


Mt. Rushmore:


Old Faithful:


My Dad's parents:

If I could turn back time...

So one of the neat things about going through all these boxes is finding old pictures. I found some yesterday and some today. Here are two I scanned yesterday...

Me... around age 4 or 5? With major 'tude. My grandparents were ALWAYS taking pictures of me and I remember this day. I was like "Enough with the pics already. I'm seeing spots!"


And in honor of my Dad's birthday (Wednesday - Jan 10th), a picture of him at 5 months:


Happy Birthday Dad!

It was the best of times... It was the worst of times...

I mean SERIOUSLY!

/sigh

My parents and I drove out to East Texas last night, stayed in Mt. Pleasant and then made it the rest of the way to Jefferson this morning. We filled up an entire moving truck and my mom's minivan with "stuff" that belonged to my grandfather. We had a quick lunch with MK and after we'd loaded the last of the "stuff" (read piles of boxes filled with god-knows-what) we drove the 3.5 hours back home. We have to unload it all tomorrow... who knows how long it will take us to go through all that stuff - and we're still working on all our stuff from the old house.

We did make it home in time to watch the Cowboy game....

If you're a Seahawks fan it was probably one of THE best games ever.

If you're a Cowboys fan it was most definitely one of the most PAINFUL games in memory.

I mean seriously.

*cringe*

*whimper*

I feel SO bad for Tony Romo.

Considering where they started at the beginning of this season - Romo taking over in mid-season... no one expected them to get into the play-offs. And they did. So kudos for that.

But ugh.

Romo looked like this horribly abused - lost - abandoned - self-hating puppy. I can't even imagine how he feels. He's had this perma-grin for most of the season. Been living his life's dream. And to end the season like that.... That's one they'll be talking about for YEARS and years....

Even my dad - a 100% Cowboy fan - who I expected to be severely pissed off - felt genuinely bad for Romo.

Ah well.

Next season is next season and hopefully the Cowboys learned a LOT from this season and will come back ready to crack open a serious can of whoop-arse!

I'm going to bed so I can get up tomorrow morning and plow through all those boxes....

Kodi & Sheba

These two crack me up.
Sheba (cat) was on Kodi's (dog) bed. Sheba is sassy and likes to steal the comfy seat.
These two play all the time.
Don't worry, no animals were harmed in the making of this video. Sheba was declawed before she came to live with us.

2007

Let's catch-up...

Got over my cold (after a miserable week).

Spent lots of time with the folks.

Seen most of my family that's still around here.

Managed to go through some boxes (not nearly enough) and some of the stuff that is still at the old house.

Going to East Texas this weekend to see MK and pick up the rest of my Grandfathers stuff.

I got a new digital camera for Christmas and have been using the critters as guinea pigs...

Our cuddly Kodi "bear":

My sweet kitty Sheba:

And all three kitties Lady (left), Luxor (center) and Sheba (right):