Thoughts « Journals of Journeys

18Sep/09Off

Freaky Friday

I see dead people.

Actually I write about them. Maybe too much. You see, the other day I was doing some research on the fictitious town for my latest novel. I'd visited the intended site several months ago but still had to plot out the layout which Google Maps is really helpful in that way. As I added streets, placed markers for various locations, I added a few people icons to mark where dead bodies were located. Then, for kicks and giggles, I switched out to Google Map's street view and "drove" beside the first dead body.

And this is what I saw:

There in the white area (see me in the section below? The yellow figure, looking at the light blue figure, which is the dead body marker.) you might be able to pick out a face. Can't quite see it? Take a look at the image below where I traced it.

Freaky, huh?

So I did it again, just to see if I was imagining it.

The picture on the left highlights the face I saw with that white rectangle. The one on the right, because the tracing didn't work as well as the first one, I pointed to what I saw so maybe you can see it too. The big arrow points to what I call a "park ranger's hat". The line just below, to the eyes, then nose and finally lips. See it? Triple freaky!

So yeah. This is definitely a good place for a dead body. Don't you agree?

Until next week, have a freak-tabulous weekend, folks!

Filed under: 2009, Freaky Friday, Journals, Kathie, Novel Excerpt, Thoughts, Twisted, Writing, funny 1 Comment

16Sep/09Off

It Just Doesn’t Get More Clearer Than This

DRbye

Sometimes things are better left unsaid. Goodbye.

Filed under: 2009, Clouds In My Coffee, Here's Your Sign, Journals, Just Wrong, Kathie, Thoughts, Wishing No Comments

11Sep/09Off

I Will Remember You: Project 2,996

Where's your flag? Is it out today? Have you thought about the thousands of Americans who died just eight years ago, today? The thousands more who've died, been maimed, are struggling as they fight in a war for justice and to preserve your freedom? Those left behind? Those who work tirelessly on home soil to protect and preserve our freedom? Don't let the memories slip away. Don't forget to thank those who have worked to give you your freedom. Don't. Forget.

A few years ago the kidlets and I took part in a special tribute to the 2,996 victims of September 11, 2001. Author D. C. Roe had spearheaded, Never Forget. He vowed to never forget the 2,996 lives that had been taken from this planet that fateful day, their contributions and the families and loved ones they left behind. The boys and I were given five names to research, learn about and join D. C. Roe in vowing to remember them.

We are thinking of Ernest Alikako, Francis J. Nazario, Frederick Kuo Jr., Jimmy Audiffred and Juan Salas who were victims of 9-11. We will be thinking of their families. Of their contributions to this world, to our country before their untimely demise. We will be lifting them up, their families up. We challenge you to do the same. For more information about the project, to participate or read the tributes other bloggers have put together to never forget the other 2,991 victims, visit Roe's new website at: http://project2996.wordpress.com/

Filed under: 2,996, 2009, 911, D. C. Roe, Ernest Alikako, Francis J Nazario, Frederick Kuo Jr, Jimmy Audiffred, Journals, Juan Salas, Kathie, Thanks, Thanksgiving, Thoughts, fire No Comments

30Aug/09Off

Thou Shalt Schedule

CrazyCalendar

Our schedule is full. Our cups runneth over. Our plates are piled high. We are inundated. Dentist and doctor appointments, after school projects, assignments with long term deadlines, homework, baseball, swimming, basketball. Places to go, people to see, things to do. That snapshot to the left? That's our actual calendar, minus a much needed update now that the school year calendar is in. Much bigger, I'll give you, easier to read, but you get the gist.

For a long time, we've incorporated a scheduling system with the kidlets to help them organize their days, most importantly, their homework, using something that would help them visualize their time. We used to use blocks, but now have gone to using paper.

schedule

First they'll write down everything they have to do after school, estimating the amount of time it takes to do each thing (the columns to the left above). This includes each homework assignment, chores, bedtime routine and even dinner.

They'll total the estimated time and then move over a column and enter their start time and end time (bedtime) and come up with the total amount of time they have to do the things they've listed.

After they're done with those tasks, they'll use the "blocks." There are four for every hour, each block representing 15 minutes. In the example above, the bottom right are the blocks, each column representing an hour, therefore a total of five hours are available to them. The colors match up with the tasks they've already identified so it's easier to glance at it and know what they're "in for." In this example, the yellow-gray blocks represent free time. They were amazed to see that they were going to have almost two hours of free time, which was enough of a motivator to get cracking on the less desirable aspects of the schedule.

It may sound a bit anal retentive, but in truth, it's become a wonderful motivator. Without us having to harp on them, they're able to stay on task, get the job done quick and efficiently. They've learned that if the task isn't done right the first time, not only do they have to do it again, right; but they've learned that they've doubled up on the time it takes to complete the chore which means it takes away from free time.

We started doing this about the time they were starting fourth grade. As the system progresses to match their cognitive levels, we still have to work with them initially to make sure they're using the system routinely. They seem to like it and I can tell you we sure do! I especially like it because when my husband steps in to oversee their jobs (believe me, he's very much a hands-on dad, but in this instance, I'm more hands-on for this), it's easy for him to pick up and keep going, like he'll need to do in a few weeks when I'll be away for a few days.

Interested in this system for your kids? Leave a comment and I'll be happy to share!

Filed under: 2009, Education, Family, Information, Journals, Kathie, Parenting, School, Thoughts 2 Comments

26Aug/09Off

Back-to-School Shopping – Part Two

I love shopping for school supplies. Hundreds of spiral notebooks, thousands of pens in every color imaginable. Gadgets for fastening, adhering, sealing, flying, pushing, pulling-- Maybe I should stop there.

Yay! School Supplies!

If you're responsible for hiring at somewhere like Office Depot or Staples, you'd be wise not to process my application, I'd go out of my head being surrounded by all these yummy things day in and day out!

So when the kids are getting ready to go back to school, as much as I try to get them to give me very specific lists in an earnest attempt to curb my overwhelming need to take all those homeless items back with me, the kids don't quite get the importance of being specific. And whose to blame them? The lists they come home with from their teachers seem to grow to a ridiculous size whenever the budgets go wonky.You can probably imagine just how crazy the lists are now, given how strapped the school's resources are with the massive budget cuts.

This year my husband stepped in to save the day, offering to grab up what they needed provided they came up with a list. Did I happen to mention how they're not very good at that? Yeah, I think a bit of my adoration for the stuff has rubbed off on them, too. You'd have thought they were writing out their wish list for a birthday or Christmas by the time they were done!

I thought it was way too much and began comparing what was on their list to the list their teachers had handed out and what I knew we had on hand. It went something like this:

Stuff on Their Lists	Stuff on Teachers' Lists	Stuff We Have on Hand	A Glimpse of Mom vs. Son Conversation
Notebooks	Journals/Notebooks and/or Loose Leaf Paper	Notebooks, Loose Leaf Paper	"Mom, I am not going to take that Tinkerbell notebook into class!"
Scientific Calculator	Scientific Calculator	Scientific Calculator	"I haven't seen it since Christmas last year." -Z. Dude
Pencils - lots (Ry-guy)	Pencils and/or pens	Pencils, Pens, Crayons, Markers, Sharpies, pin to prick finger so you can write with your blood	"You keep stealing our pencils, Mom." Me: "I have straight pins if you prefer."
Graph paper	Graph paper for later in the first quarter	Rulers and lined paper for a fun, DIY project	"You can not be serious." (If you're envisioning a roll of the eyes at the end of that, you've nailed it!)
Locker Buddy stuff	Three scans later, nothing at all was said about locker "gear."	Drawers full of fluffy pom-poms from a 2nd grade project, glue sticks, colored wooden popsicle sticks from a 4th grade science project, beads and string from some Christmas gift projects a couple of years ago, and much more.	"I'll use my own good grade money you still haven't coughed up and buy my own." Momzilla's response: "Negatory, rubber ducky, that 'good grade money' was lost when the bad messy room didn't become sparkling clean."

They came back with notebooks, mechanical pencils complete with extra 'lead' and erasers, and I believe I saw two bright yellow highlighters. It was just the silly string that kept me from permanently assigning the hubby to the task next time.

But I might reconsider. I got these:

Eight New Notebooks!