Noah's question for today: "What is the point of using Jedi mind tricks on stupid people?"

Discuss!



Thank you, Teacherninja, for the nomination.
• Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
• Link the person who nominated you.
• Name seven things about yourself that no one would really know.
• Nominate ten “Sugar Dolls.”
• Post links to the ten blogs you nominate.
• Leave a comment on each letting them know you nominated them.

Finding seven things that people wouldn't really know is rather difficult. I thought that listing that I was a control freak would be considered universal knowledge, so I had to move unto something else.

1. I believe dogs and cats should be spayed, or neutered to help decrease the sad circumstances that are produced by unwanted and uncared for animals.
2. I have fond memories of square hamburgers because my maternal grandmother would drive in to Columbus near the "Bypass" to go to Krystals. She would always put napkins around the salt and pepper shakers because, "You never know who touched them before you got there." I love mustard, dill pickles, and bread. I don't deviate from what I order there, or Subway for that matter. My brother is autistic, but he hasn't cornered the market on repetitive behavior. For example, Subway has a menu that offers so many choices, but I always order: a 6inch Subway Club with pepper jack cheese, toasted with lettuce, sliced dill pickles, tomatoes, heavy on the spinach, and plain yellow mustard (I can't stand the other stuff, which surprises me, yet is absolutely true).

3. I like so many different things and enjoy talking about them without ever having mastered any of the subjects that I come off as a repository for useless and inane facts, but Hey I like it that way. My guess is this tendency has led me to spend an inordinate amount of time watching the series QI on youtube.com.


4. I consistently lose Scrabble games against my husband. He is a master of getting words that count in two directions, while I am looking to make the coolest word. This really is my only strategy because I don't think well on multiple planes. I'm like the triangles in Flatland...one dimensional and dangerous if you bump into me (that is why we stopped playing Monopoly too).

5. My daughter says I'm not funny...maybe I was twice...in her opinion. I sometimes get laughing so hard at something I, alone, find witty that my sides ache. That is a good time, my friends.

6. I will go to the store to buy something and find something incidental on the way. If I continue shopping I will make the case for and against buying the incidental object. Usually not buying wins out (even in the case of chocolate...tell no one).



7. I think the spork is one of the handy dandiest of cool inventions.


:::::::::::Book Review::::::::


Amelia Peabody is tired of the Victorian trappings both ideologically and physically. I think she would burn her bra, as well, but by the author's description of Amelia that wouldn't be a great idea. Amelia is someone who speaks her mind and due to an inheritance can do so without worrying to much about the consequences. The information on Egypt was interesting along with some of the preservation techniques. There were a few times where I would think to myself, "get on with it already" because the author rehashed things a bit too much, but the characters have a lot of potential. There were several pithy lines between the sparring couple Amelia and Radcliffe Emerson. I enjoyed their interacctions. Not an outstanding beginning to a series, but still worth checking out book 2.


:::::::::::::Yearbook Music:::::::
I have been working on the kids yearbook again this year and I'm becoming "snowblind" looking and relooking at photos, but I thought of this song and it made me nostaligic and I just think it's cool:

:::::::::::::Who Lives in a Pineapple Under the Sea?

Spongebob Squarepants, as many people know. We had a request from a friend and her daughter to help make a 1 year-old's party a bit more fun in the cake department. I enlisted the help of my favorite creative genius and we used date night to help decorate this birthday cake:

Everyone pitched in. Favihola (grandmother to our birthday girl) baked the cakes, made the tube worm and some sea grass. Michael trimmed the cakes. I frosted and covered them with fondant. Michael made the pineapple the red & orange coral, and the cute pink octopus. Alex (uncle) made Gary the Snail and cut out the flowers, Christina (mom) made Nemo, the jellyfish, sea stars, bubbles and some seagrass. Favihola made Planktons body and ears and I stuck on his eye bits. Richard (dad) made a giant clam with a pearl.

The toothpicks will get pulled out today for the party. Happy 1st Birthday, Eliana!

Ribbon Cake

Ribbon Cake:

Here is the cake I made for homework in my Wilton Art Class III:







::::::::::::Book Review::::::::



I found this a fascinating book. Bart Ehrman does a great job presenting the New Testament using the historical critical method. He explains with example after example that the Bible is a compilation of books written by individual authors who had different views. They didn't know at the time that their writings would be combined with others and made into a work called The Holy Bible. The books that we read that are considered the 4 Gospels are attributed to specific people, but no author was originally listed. The accounts come years after the events and the oral tellings written down. The works have been changed accidentally and own purpose over time. People who try to force the various views to create a unified doctrine actually create their own gospel as opposed to the ones actually written. Ehrman wishes that people that read the Bible would let each author's words taken for what the actually said couched in the time period it was written and in the historical and political context. Ehrman called the Bible a theological narrative, which I thought was a good description. He makes the point that many people would say you can't pick and choose what to follow from reading the scriptures, but people do just that all the time. My favorite example is the verse in 1 Timothy which insists that women remain, silent and submissive. I have always thought to my self (when not uttering out loud to anyone around). Ehrman argues this was a letter forged under Paul's name to use his clout to get church members to listen to their point of view.
The historical critical method takes the information and displays it vertically, or side by side and takes all the accounts at once. Using independent sources that verify events within the time period written about true statements can be gleaned. If you read here and there the information does not often seem to contradict, but reading it vertically you see it very clearly.
I don't come from a world view that believes in the inerrancy of the Bible, so I wasn't shocked by the information from Ehrman's book. I really enjoyed the scholarship and the candid nature of the author. I think seeing things for what they are is much more comforting to me. There were people with a message and I want to know what they had to say.
I look forward to reading some of this authors other books too.

:::::::::Gymnastics:::::::

Eve has just finished her second week in gymnastics and she is still all smiles. Yeah for Eveybug.

:::::::::::::::

Noah says greedily, "I am not immune to the delicious flavor of peanut butter cookies!"

Smiles, all!

Sprite Has Dimples and Coke has Pimples!

This is one of the things we learned at Dialog in the Dark. Even our guide said he didn't know that one. Michael, Aaron, Rachel and I found the experience amazing. We explored a park, a grocery store, took a boat ride, crossed the street, went to a cafe and sat down for a Q and A...all in pitch black rooms. We were provided with walking sticks. All our belongings, including eye glasses, went into a locker. I found the sounds from tapping things were the most helpful due to the different timbre of various objects. If you get the exhibit in your town give it a whirl.


::::::::::::The Grim Reaper Philosophy::::::

Michael was talking with Rachel and me about how time speeds up when you get older and closer to death. Rachel's response was immediate, and classic, "Sounds like somebody needs a Happy Meal!"



:::::::::::Digital Layouts from Scout Camp:::::::










:::::::::::::A Walk::::::::

I took a walk today and watched what happens when humidity doesn't let the sweat do anything but pool up on your arm. I looked like a white, freckly, wet tarp. Yeah, me!

I did get to listen to some great podcasts from Brian Dunning's Skeptoid site. I was really impressed by the one about Sarah Palin and others. The title is "Sarah Palin is Not Stupid". He talks about avoiding ad hominem attacks when people don't agree with your view, instead be polite and present your evidence. Otherwise, you just come off looking like a petty jerk. Really thoughtful piece.

:::::::::::::Cake Art numero Tres:::

I'm looking forward to my class tomorrow.

Later, gators!

Let Them Eat (Little) Cake!

The neatest trick was learning to make flowers on the flat end of a bamboo skewer, then poking the sharp end through the petit four and through the base leaving a rose on top.
::::::::::::::::::::Daisy Days::::::::::::

A layout of Eve using Rachel Young designs from Scrapartist:


:::::::::::::::::Tagged:::::::::::::

Seven random facts:

1. I think 3/4 length sleeves are one of the coolest designs in clothing. If I had great upper arms I would say capped sleeves were the coolest.

2. I think walking 2 miles to get a malt that has more calories than the actual walk burns off is still way worth the trip!

3. I am always looking for something when I take photos that I can't explain, but know when I see it.

4. When I see a bluebird fly by it really makes me happy!

5. I wonder why people find it hard to make eye contact with people and smile.

6. I have plantars fascitis in my right foot, so I walk slow as Christmas.

7. I watched a cool video about a tribe where the men paint their faces and do wild expressions to impress the woman. I ask Michael to do the facial expressions, sans face paint, and he obliges sometimes. He is a hoot!

It's Nice to Have Neighbors That Have A Similar Sense of Humor:

I was invited to a (Wall Paper) Stripping Party at my neighbor's house. She was tired of looking at the floral wallpaper in her bedroom. She also promised lunch for my efforts, so why not! Two of her friends came over to help for a few hours, then had to leave to pick up their kids from preschool. I stayed until my kids came home a couple of hours later. I was able to help her finish up the third wall and clean up. She used her enthusiasm and adrenaline to finish up the wall a little while later. Michael called me down stairs to say I had a message. This is what my funny neighbor left on my walkway:


CLASSIC!

I'm going slightly out of order because I have a few things going on. The wall paper dealy was on Wednesday, but this next blurb was on Monday:

Spotlight on Specials:

This was a night of going to school with the kids and learning about some of the classes devoted to certain subjects. We didn't get to go to every Specials class, but Noah showed us the Math Specials room in this photo:
Eve caught some air time in the gym:


Aaron and Michael checked out their hand/eye coordination:

Everybody checked out the keyboards in the music room:






When we got back home Noah was still climbing the walls...literally:

The Kindergarten had a field trip to Washington Farms in Watkinsville, Ga. I drove up separately in my minivan and got there shortly before the buses arrived: I got a photo of Eve's eager face at the bus window:




Pie pumpkins are small and sweet. This one is destined to be a pumpkin pie filling:


::::::::::::::::::Thursday::::::::
I had a workshop day with our Josten's yearbook representative. There were only a few people that could make the training class, so I was able to ask my questions and get some help with the software. Come to find out I was the most involved of the advisors in working with the program. I was able to point some things out that frustrated me to another advisor and give some ideas on what worked well. The Josten's rep laughed and told the other advisor that I was anal about getting everything right. It's true. I also was looking at other yearbooks and they are cookie cutters of the year before with big photos and no journaling. It goes against my grain to not tell the story, or bits of it at least. I have a hard time asking people to buy something that I have not put my best effort in. I'm not a slap and go kinda person. I have been indexing the photos as I find out the students names to try and make sure everyone is in the book more than once and can find themselves. I've had kids ask me to take their photos and saying they have never seen themselves in more than the student class section. I'm now the yearbook lady and I have teachers smile and grab my arm to show me a great shot, or just be polite and tell the kids to keep working. I also get kids saying, "Hey, there is Eve's mom, (Noah's mom), (Rachel's mom), and I get the biggest grins. I wish I could get all of the great photos into the book in the end. I have never done this type of book before, but I hope to be up to the expectations of myself and others.

::::::::::::::::::TODAY:::::::::::
I took another Wilton Art class. The lesson was on making Petit Fours. It was a 2 hours hands on class. We all got to decorate 5 petit fours. We used poured fondant for 4 of them and white chocolate for 1. I brought them home and my mom photographed them, so when I get the photos I will post them. I shared them with my eager family. Everyone was complimentary. I particularly like petit fours and the limitless decorating possibilities.

:::::::::::::::::Reading::::::::::
Still enjoying the The Mysterious Benedict Society. I'm also reading a book about science and I had to have Michael explain to me the difference between gravity and the strong force as it relates to the presence of dark matter. I'm still confused. Gravity is bending light like it shouldn't by our understanding. I find this stuff fascinating, but remain sooooo clueless!

I grabbed a book on the Magna Carta that I will add to my Shelfari. It looks pretty cool. I have to run and pick the kids up from a birthday party...so later, gators!

The Tooth Fairy Sets Up A Tent at The Taylor House...

Noah was brushing his teeth, this morning, and came down with a tooth in his hand. He said it got stuck in between the bristles. He now has both of his two front teeth gone. Rachel's molar was the other day. With the way the economy is going we may just slip a few dollars in as a request with the 700 billion dollar bailout. I'm not sure anyone would notice.


Thank you to everyone who called and emailed about my last post! Y'all are AWESOME! Also, thank you to Suzanne for the crazy old advertisement email. I will never look at Lysol the same way again...EVER! I also think choosing to walk with my bad foot is still a better method at weight lose then a bottle of tape worms. :)

My neighbor, Kristen, invited me to go kayaking. We went here:

The Dam Store Canoe and Kayak
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Come enjoy the North Georgia jewels, Lake Lanier and the Chattahoochee River in a boat. Kayak trips, Buford Dam to Settles Bridge, 5 miles, 2 + hours only $10, shuttle included. Convenient shuttle times.

We had a fun paddling in the 48 degree farenheit water, while the air was in the warm 80s. We saw a couple of blue herons, sunning turtles, mallards and a few fly fisherman. It turns out to get a photo with me in it you have to go with a friend who dares take her nice, digital camera and a Ziploc down the river.


:::::::::::::::::::::::Cake Art Class:::::::::

I finished my royal icing flowers for my final class. I put the final product away before snapping a photo, but I do have a few to upload tomorrow. I will bake the cake and put a crumb coat on Monday. I also have my color flow pieces done. I'm hoping that nothing gets demolished before "game" time.

:::::::::::::Playin' Around::::::
with a kit by Karen Lewis and Danielle Engebretson:

Take care! :)

Let Them Eat Cake...

because I need to get rid of my class project! :)


Credits: Font by Darcy Baldwin called DJB KIRA at The Digichick, Background paper by Jen Wilson from Nostalgia #4, Jenna Desai's Doodle Mask Frame, Cluster frame by Nancy Comelab.

:::::::::::::::::::Grab A Fleece Blanket and Some Popcorn:::::

My dear spouse speaks wife. To be more exact he speaks the dialect of wife called Victoria. It is a specific dialect and very hard to translate. He also reads my blog and knew I wanted to watch this version of "Pride and Prejudice". What is even cooler is that he wants to watch it with me. This is such a cool Valentine's Day gift. Good Stuff, I tell ya!

We went together to our local Mexican restaurant, Sangria's for Valentine's Day dinner. Rachel scarfed down 3 helpings of refried black beans. She assured us she was safe for closed in spaces, so we agreed to drive her home after the meal. I'm an enchilada supreme gal. Michael loves the fish tacos. Noah orders chicken strips and fries. What a nut! Aaron went for chicken and rice soup with two soft beef tacos...NO lettuce. Eve is a simple girl. She likes refried beans and Mexican rice. The restaurant gave me a red carnation for Valentine's and Eve proudly held it all the way home.

::::::::::::::::Another Layout in My SIL's Album:::::::

My niece, Teresa, on a trip to San Francisco sponsored by AFLAC Cancer Center. She "acquired" the tour guides beret and having fun hamming it up for the camera.


Credits:
Darcy Baldwin: DJB KIRA at The Digichick
Michelle Godin: Springtime in Paris kit (I think that is the name)
Catrine: Explore Solids and Laura Alpha
Christina Renee: Book Plate Alpha


::::::::::::::::::::I've Been Tagged:::::::::::::
Carol has tagged me to divulge 7 random facts about myself that would astound and amaze you! LOL Or just stuff you don't already know.

THE RULES:
1. Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Post THE RULES on your blog.
3. Post 7 weird or random facts about yourself on your blog.
4. Tag 7 people and link to them.
5. Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged.

1.I'll start with a weird fact. I can't stand flies in a room with me. I turn it into a seek and destroy mission. I have perfected how to come up behind them and steady the book, or magazine and...THWAP!. Michael says I get an insane glint in my eye when I'm doing this.
2. One of my favorite things to do as a kid was sit near the window while the sun streamed in so I could catch the light just right in my eyes and look at the blood vessels, eye lashes and floatie things.
3. I love manual transmission cars, but I don't have one. I know, grab a violin to play for my pity party.
4. I prefer to go barefoot pretty much in any weather, but snow on the ground and I hate the feel of my barefoot on the car accelerator or brake. So, there are exceptions.
5. I love to dance with my husband, but I always want to lead. I have had some rudimentary dance lessons, but I can't seem to just let go and let someone else lead. Type A personality, did you say?
6. My favorite ride at an amusement park is the bumper cars. I could stay there all day smelling the ozone and crashing into folks. Pure glee, I tell you!
7. I can't sleep past about 7:30am even when I have no where to go. I also prefer to stay up late, then complain about not getting enough sleep. Self-fulfilling prophecies are marvelous, don't ya think?!

If you want to play...No PRESSURE...

Michael...cause I'm sure after 18 years there is still things I can learn.
My SIL, Melissa,
My neighbor, Kristen
My friend, Kim...she has the best reading lists for me to check out.
My stepdad, Jim...he's a riot!
My BIL, Marcus, an amazing photographer.
Mariquita...an amazing scrapbook artist

::::::::::::::::::::::Well, My head Says::::::::

go take a decongestant, so I will away now. I would like to quickly thank Eve for coughing in my face while I held her in my loving and protective arms. Please folks, remember to cough into the crook of your arm. This PUBLIC SERVICE announcement and pity party is over...FOR NOW! :)

Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired...

says Evey!

One sick little girl can really put a wrench in my blogging schedule! :) Eve is in my lap chattering right now. She is begging for me to play the Myst series with her again. She loved the characters and the "spooky music". Due to her high fever, cough and general lethargy she was forced to miss "Dessert with Dad" at her preschool. Michael told her he would take her for ice cream at Bruster's. Not only was Eve sick, but I had my final Wilton decorating class for Course 1. I was able to get my cake baked, iced and smoothed with all of the decorator icing prepared. Unfortunately, I left 2 of the tips I needed in the dishwasher due to being distracted. While I was getting ready to leave and taking care of Eveybug Michael was repairing my brakes. I told him on Sunday that they were hashed and having to stop quickly and pull over for an ambulance to pass did them in. He drove the car to work on Monday and agreed that they were bad. He has been working 50 hour weeks, getting ready for scouts, helping with homework, cuddling a sick Eveybug and getting no sleep because he is in our full size bed with a sick toddler. All of these factors combined he still was able to run to the auto parts store and get new pads and rotors for my car and fix the brakes. He drove my car to work this morning and said he thinks all is well.

Eve has had her bath, her fever is gone, but not her runny nose and cough, so she is staying home again. She will be by cake decorating trainer for my push to finish my last cake decorating assignment. My roses came out ruffled because my icing is too stiff. I think they look "Shabby Chic".

::::::::::::::::Please Take a Second to Check Out::::::::

my new "Humanitarian" section. I have links to Free Rice and a new one for a 20 minute video called "Story of Stuff". I found that 20 minutes incredibly informative and thought it very worthy to share.

::::::::::::::::Finished and on Order::::::::::

I finally finished my SIL's Christmas present and ordered it today. I sent her the Shutterfly link so she could check for errors. She said she really liked it, so that make me happy. Here is the Front and Back Cover:



Credits: Font: Grinched, Kay Miller's Lagoon Kit, Kate Hadfield's Vehicle, Pirate and Animal Doodles, also Summer Collab Kit from TLP, Susan Long's castle doodle, Erica Hite's Dear Diary Doodle for the banner.

Here are a few layouts:

I will update the credits for this one soon.



This is one of my sweet nieces, Isabell.


Credits:
Darcy Baldwin: DJB Doodle E Doo at The Digichick
Designs by Angelica E.: Happy Doodles
Kate Hadfield: Lovebirds, Chipboard Doodled Hearts
Ida: Heart Doodle Alpha
Natalie Braxton: Strings from the February B.Y.O.C.
Kristin Cronan-Barrow: Lovedovey glitter

A couple of nieces and a nephew playing in the leaves.


Credits:
Darcy Baldwin: DJB MICHAEL at The Digichick
Ida: Fall leaves doodles, Crayon Doodles
Catrine: Explore Solids
Katie Pertiet: Taped frames

::::::::::::::::::::::::::Dawn Inskip Layouts::::::

I made these as part of a tryout for a guest c.t. spot using her freebie::


Eve likes to imagine she is a flower fairy when the azaleas bloom in our front yard.


Credits:
Dawn Inskip: Guest C.T. Mini Kit
Darcy Baldwin: DJB Connorbuck at The Digichick


Aaron and Rachel are like a couple of lizards on a wall when it comes to climbing.
Credits:
Dawn Inskip: Guest C.T. Mini Kit
Darcy Baldwin: DJB MISH at The Digichick

I will update tomorrow, as Eve should be back to school. I have been tagged by Carol and also need to hand out my blog awards. Later today is the teacher conferences for Rachel and Noah...should be interesting!

Smiles!