11.30.2010 Tuesday

The last day of a month that evaporated.  The only good thing about this is that the semester is just about over and this has been one for the record books.  I found out in tonight's class that most of the progress I made yesterday was actually back peddling or redundancy due to my lack of appropriate documentation.  Arggghhh. This is good to discover though with two weeks left, not two weeks after the semester is over.


Found out this valuable information during a Peer Review session.  I always, always, ALWAYS learn so much for other students.  Why any instructor does not incorporate learner centered knowledge into the class time is beyond me.  One way delivery is so flat and hard to endure...and speaking of falling flat....
I must keep the momentum going to finish strong....ok, maybe just to finish.  Either way, it will be over soon.  "This too shall pass" seems appropriate for tonight. 

Got to pitch hit at child care this morning.  I'm glad I'm close enough to help out.  I have a feeling that their childhoods will evaporate as quickly as this month's!  Good night...

11.29.2010 Monday

Hit the ground running this morning.  Had to transfer the work day to Friday because of all the projects/papers piling up.  Purchased my own printer yesterday and installed it today in the library cubbie.  This was a major bottle neck uncorked.  Just being able to print at will and waste the time to go to the first floor to wait in line and retrieve my printing was amazing.  This Canon printer cost $32.  All BSU would have to do is furnish the printer in the Scholar Carrels and let the "scholar's" furnish the ink and paper and it would be wonderful.  Doubt that ever happens, but I can dream.

Presented the skeleton of the research topic I am writing for Creativity.  It seemed to be well received (no one fell visibly asleep) but it is hard to articulate your own passion to anyone outside of that genre.  Worked well into the night and am just about caught up in Qualitative Research.  That is good.  Three major pieces out of the way. 

Reading the book The Plentitude by Rich Gold (n.d.)  It's a great little book.  He has some interesting theories about the 4 creative types and the hats that they wear.  I'm glad to have found a copy.  May be a library acquisition. 

I found a "spot" on Dennis' leg tonight that he described as a "boo boo".  I'm sorry but diabetic legs don't get boo boos....they have wounds that need immediate attention.  He must crave large doses of high volumn shooting because that's what he got for not doing anything to this shin.  Not good.  James and Holly are also not good with stomach flu and nasty throats.  Ah flu season....it's a most wonderful time of the year. un-LOL

11.28.2010 Sunday after absolutely

The close of a holiday always leaves me with regret for what didn't happen.  I know that I always have too many activities envisioned for the time and space allowed...and that my vision is not the vision of others.  I also tend to think in absolutes that my house has to be absolutely clean, that everyone has to be absolutely happy and content, that every event has to be pulled off with absolute precision and with absolutely no stress or fuss.  What I'm doing is setting myself up for absolute disappointment and frustration which is what I did again this year.  I did not allow any of the grandkids to come to my house for fear their parents would not approve of my lack of housekeeping or current organization levels. (or lack thereof).  I realize now that I should absolutely not care what the parents think but let the grandchildren experience grandparents who do not live in a magazine home and who have a messy life but love them as much as is humanly possible.  Actually as I look at the children's dwellings, theirs are not much different than mine and I don't think less of them. It's me who remembers the comments and body language and absolutely commits it to the looping memory that is so easily triggered.  I need to remove the batteries of that recorder or tape over it with something more positive.  Next year I hope to be different.   I hope there are no absolutes....

The knowledge that the funeral home calling is this afternoon has absolutely stopped all forward progress for me.  I still am somewhat in shock that Dean is gone.  It was good to meet his relatives and see the slide show of his life.  He seemed to be surrounded by extended family.  I am just haunted by our last visit when he said, "I've just finished my degree and now I'm ready to really do something....."  He trailed off at that point with a tear in his eye.  I think he must have known then, but I wanted to cheer him up and probably acted the same way to him as Kristen did with me on the Thanksgiving day trip north....uncomfortable.  I hope Dean was able to vent freely with someone who helped him work through his fears and not someone who forced him to "keep the sunny side up."  I know he was confident of heaven, so that is some comfort, but I wished again, that I had been a better friend to him.

The rest of the evening melted away as most Sunday evenings do.  The impossible tasks looming large for the next two weeks are enough to make escape seem appropriate and desirable.  I hope the family understands when I totally disappear into the library.  I should have done that all of last week, but some things are more important than academics and during the living of this Thanksgiving/Christmas/Mourning it was people not papers that mattered....absolutely!

11.27.2010 Saturday Delaware/Tarrant County Christmas

Started the morning late with cooking and getting wrapping done for the early gift exchange on Gilbert Street.  I had the option of having Christmas dinner at my house but declined because of lack of preparation and the need to move the entire troop over prior to naps.  A perfect example of two right answers and being flexible with either one.  The gift exchange was pleasant and and unhurried.  Kelly finally acquiesced to Aaron's pleas for an early opening of the WII.  It was "for the kids" he said.....

We had an intense meeting on the administration of the Dennis Trust.  This meeting also proceeded very well, with complete transparency and, at times, laughter.  We remembered the sacrifices that Howard and Dorothy made for this situation to take place and thanked God that the provision seems to have come at exactly the right time.  Our main prayer is for wisdom and peace in the distribution.

Naps were enjoyed by all and the WII proved to be good entertainment as no football was passively watched.  The entire entourage converged on Puerta Vallerta for a good-bye dinner.  It was the best dining out experience we have had as an entire group.  Londt Co hit the road at 8:15pm and the Young Londt's plus Kristen retired to Royal Oak with the DVD of Wizard of Oz.  We went to Gilbert Street to be acclaimed to the WII in a more relaxed atmosphere.  It was fun and we stayed until after bedtime.

Sad note to learn of the death of Dean Ford, fellow grad student in Technology.  He passed on November 24th.  51 years old and diagnosed for less than 2 months.  Calling and funeral on Sunday.  I had intentions of seeing him next week.  He had a loving church family.  My hope is that they were not too busy with Thanksgiving to be with him.

11.26.2010 Friday Londt Thanksgiving

Friday after a night at Hickory Tree Farm.  Once I was asleep, I really slept.  It was definitely better to see Dorothy's home in the daylight.  We gathered ourselves and returned to River Road to be the tail end of breakfast and then to the nothingness of sitting around.  The ladies did take a trip to Albion's "Mall"  aka Dollar General, but that was about the extent of the day.  We didn't get to the Swamp House to look at the animals.  No one else went to Hickory Tree to see the improvements there.  The guys did hang out in the woodshop for the creation of projects by Aaron/Grandpa Cole but that was about it. 

Londt's loaded up for a relocation to Huntertown and the scaled down Londt Thanksgiving of chili and hot dogs.  It was a concentrated celebration and we once again relocated to Delaware County without James' Wrangler which decided to not run after being bragged on my it's owner.  Humbling. 

Early night with everyone tired from the major events of the past few days.  The double holiday is going to take some getting used to.  Almost like a Chinese buffet followed by Mexican....more than can be consumed comfortably.

11.25.2010 Thursday Thanksgiving Day

Strange, strange Thanksgiving.  The caravan north left with Kristen and me alone.  I would have preferred to be totally alone because I needed to mourn Grandpa Pyle.  It feels that everyone is so relieved that he is not suffering that they are taking no time to remember his life.  I really wanted to get a website designed 2 years ago for his descendants and it's not a good thing that it did not get completed.  There will be no funeral at this time and the URL would have been a benefit at the end of the obituary.  Kristen was uncomfortable with my sadness and kept trying to cheer me up when I really needed to get through this. 

Grandma Cole's house was packed to the rafters with family.  It was the typical Thanksgiving meal and one end of the table couldn't hear what was going on at the other end.  An engagement was announced and little kids were added to the big table.  Everyone ate too much and retired to video games, the toy room or clean up.  Some of the little kids took naps and then Christmas started with the sock ritual and the white elephant exchange and little kid Bingo. 

My highlight was being alone with my dad at the empty Thanksgiving table and with the open opportunity asking him about the first Christmas he could remember.  At first he didn't want to respond, just kind of looked at me, but then he started to talk and he told me wonderful things about his childhood that I must record before I forget them.  It was unfortunate that the Sock Ritual broke the flow because I could not reconnect with him again.  I hope to be able to find out more about his early life.  He is not verbose at all and hearing him tell stories was a rare treat.

Four of us moved to Dorothy's house for the evening to make more room on River Road.  This was a rather unsettling experience.  I had a hard time falling asleep, but did manage to get some sleep early in the morning.  I am thankful for Dorothy's life and contribution through the farm, for Grandpa Pyle and his legacy and for learning more about my Dad and his early years.

11.24.2010 Wednesday

The day started out unhurried.  Kelly went to about her normal work schedule.  Aaron, James, Holly, Kristen and I all had the day off.  Dennis had delivered his shut in dvd's yesterday so he was free also.  Everyone except Londt Co attended the Angels on High Thanksgiving Feast at High Street Methodist's nursery school.  The program took approximately 5 minutes but the important event was meeting 5 year old MacKenzie's boyfriend Dalton who even earned a leaf on her foam tree!  Ah a pretaste of things that will too quickly come.
Aaron asked Dennis to go with him to saw some wood, so those left took turns with daycare.  Heidi had lunch plans with co-workers.  James and Holly left for her Thanksgiving with westside Indianapolis relatives.  Kristen ran errands, so that left Aaron and me with late afternoon childcare duties.  All of the kids are playing well and naps were ordered, so it wasn't a huge task.  Joe and Heidi had dinner plans with friends from Indy and I needed to complete an insulin pump pack for a friend's 9 year old niece.  That project proceeded nicely and I got it to her before she left BSU early.  It had just started to spit freezing rain as I pulled up.  The heater in the Quilted Cottage was keeping up and it was most pleasant to work out there this early afternoon.

Aaron stirred up some nice Chinese food for the kiddos as Kelly was stuck in traffic.  We got them all around the table though Lizzie was the only one eating with any gusto.  Kelly arrived towards the end of the meal and when we analyzed how to best clean up Lizzie, a bath in the kitchen sink seemed best.  I brought games over but the USA puzzle proved to be the highlight of the evening.

At about 5:30pm my mom called to say that her father was probably not going to last long.  She had been at the nursing home all day and had just run home for a change of clothes and was on her way back.  She said that she was ok, for now, and not to come.  She had called her brother and she would keep us informed.  We were not going to cancel Thanksgiving, she had all the preparations underway.
She wanted prayer that his passing would not be painfully extended as the morphine they had just started to administer was not giving him relief.   This news was emotional for me, in that Grandpa Pyle had always expressed a desire to reach 100 years.  When he was forced to use a walker at 95 he said, "It's ok because I'll get 5 years worth of use out of it, so it will pay for itself!"  He would be 98 in February and that was so close that it makes his missed goal all that more poignant.   Mom called again at 8:05 and Ernie had indeed made it to the nursing home just before Grandpa breathed his last.  She didn't describe the passing as peaceful but mercifully fast.  By telling each of my children, one-at-a-time, it made the event a bit harder on me, but was glad that we were all here.  I don't know the funeral or memorial plans as Grandpa left his body to science with the intent that they study it for clues to longevity.  I'm sure to find out more tomorrow.

Albert Pyle

Sunday, 28 November 2010 00:00

KENDALLVILLE — Albert L. Pyle, 97, died Thursday, Nov. 25, 2010 at Lutheran Life Villages

Nursing Home in Kendallville.

He was a 20-year resident of Noble County, and then retired to Florida.

Mr. Pyle was born in Bourbon, Ind., on Feb. 19, 1913 to Albert W. and Nora Gay Pyle. He

married Dorothy Johnson of Etna Green, Ind., on June 25, 1931. She preceded him in death in

November of 1995.

He worked as a land surveyor for the Soil Conservation Service and Indiana Michigan Light

Company.  In his retirement in Florida, filled his days with Pretty Punch fiber crafts and collecting shells
on the beach.  Al was the "Spiceman" at a local flea market for many years where he had a spice
booth, but really he enjoyed seeing the people.  He returned to Noble County in the mid 2000's to be nearer
to family.  He and his dog Ginger enjoyed living in The Lamplighter until a broken hip ended his independence
two years ago. Ginger was a robust protector of Albert and she died shortly after his hospitalization.

Surviving are:  Nancy (Jack) Cole of Albion, and Ernest (Sue) Pyle of

Churubusco; a sister, Roma Smith of Silver Lake, Ind.; 18 grandchildren; 44 great

grandchildren; and 10 great-great grandchildren.

Preceding him in death, in addition to his wife, were two sons, Allen Pyle and Ron Pyle, and a

daughter, Jo Ann French.

He unselfishly donated his entire body to science, therefore his memorial will be in the hearts

of those who knew and loved him. He truly was a good man.

11.23.2010 Tuesday

Bible study today without kids.  I was slated to pick up the commencement regalia from a friend, but due to a miscommunication, I was a week early.  So, I visited with my friend anyway and saw her new training facility in New Castle.  Rendezvoused with Londt Co as they had lunch at LaBamba and then went to work.  Dr. Hua had successfully repaired my netbook with was wonderful.  He had worked at the facility I toured in the morning, so he was interested in the new facility as well.

Londt Co transferred to Gilbert Street and everyone met for dinner at Fazoli's.  Afterward, it was a work night as the carpet and pad had to be removed in the living room due to the aquarium mishap (see Sunday's entry).  Everyone helped or stayed out of the way.  It was a mess, but the hardwood under the carpet was not in too bad of shape and a sander rental is in the future.  After the kids were put to bed, everyone settled to watch Mel Brook's Young Frankenstein, some with the dialogue memorized and some who were seeing it for the first time.  Good first night.

11.22.2010 Monday

The start of Thanksgiving Week.  There is way too much stuff to get done to have it anywhere close to the festivities that I have envisioned in my head.  Work today on the journal article and the script with Nakia before she leaves campus.  The first class presentations of research topics sparked interest and were informative.  I especially liked Earl's on trademark design.

Learned that a fellow grad student was being transferred from the hospital to a nursing facility.  I will go see him next week after BSF in New Castle.  James and Holly and dog moved to our house since their apartment had flooded about two weeks ago and the complex has not cleaned the carpets yet.

11.21.2010 Sunday SUPERMOM in the battle with e-villll L.I.F.E.

Dennis took Kristen and me to breakfast this morning.  It was his debut as video guy at church (first since his foot trauma) and he was excited.  It's good to see him volunteering again.  After he left for his appointed post, Kristen and I casually chatted about the upcoming week and the items we have to accomplish.  She said she needed a boulder taller than she is for her glass class's critique tomorrow.  TOMORROW!  It's a job for SUPER M-O-M!  Faster than a speeding text, stronger than a very old onion, able to leap onto impossible projects with a single bound.  Supermom -- sent to this earth at a very young age (probably by rocket ship since I hate the feeling of falling) to right the wrongs, stop the whining and fix the boo boo's of several households.  Supermom stands for completion, progress and the American Way!   We didn't find her boulder, but did find a rock arrangement along Minnetrista Boulevard.  The project wasn't completely finished so the final touches needed to completed this afternoon.  Another emergency -- a 55 gallon aquarium explosion on Gilbert Street -- must have been caused by Supermom's arch enemy L.I.F.E. (Londt's In Fierce Emergencies)  We all headed over there after a frantic, high pitched, nearly inaudible cell phone call on the Supermom rapid response receptor.  Two shopvacs and one carpet shampooer later and the fishy deed was cleaned up with only a damp carpet to show for it.  The next Supermom caper involves water again, though this time it is the aftermath of a flooded newlywed apartment and the fight against a most dangerous enemy.....the dreaded BLACK MOLD!  It should be curtains for him after we hit the floor with bleach and vacuum. 
Supermom returns to her mild mannered self as grad student, wife, nurse and Granny with not a care in the world ....until (cue the theme music) L.I.F.E. rears it's ugly head with another emergency!!! (fade to black)

This sounds far fetched but that is exactly what I was thinking about late Saturday night....I have been surrounded by so many emergencies this fall and I've responded to them (mostly) with poise and bearing so much so, that it's beginning to take an emergency to motive me to action.  I prefer to remain my mild mannered self and plod along rather than jumping into action to proceed the evil and dastardly L.I.F.E. with all of it's To Do lists and projects and papers and stuff stretching into the horizon.  Maybe this is a huge insight into procrastination.  Maybe I'm just overwhelmed and there are no instructions in the Supermom handbook about dealing with that.  Maybe I've grown entirely comfortable with the emergency Adrenalin rush -- and like it -- and now won't get off dead center without it.  Maybe....

Kristen and I finished the engagement photo shoot of two weeks ago and delivered them to the bride-to-be.  We have to work on our presentation choreography...we kind of stumbled all over each other.  The bride seemed to like them and the groom had them on Facebook within two hours so we think he approved.  That case almost didn't take Supermom though the supersuit was at the ready.  Maybe I really need to make a supersuit just to drive home how many times I feel the need to don it and jump into the frey!  (cue music, credits, and a word from our sponsor....GOD who is really in control)

11.20.2010 Saturday

The 24-hour rule should be patented.  It's amazing how quickly an injury will heal in the first two days.  My foot hurts at least 80% less.  I'm glad I didn't go the medical route yesterday.

Met a good friend for breakfast and a garden bulb exchange.  Friends are such a rare commodity.  To grow a good crop of friends take quit a bit of effort, cultivation and nurturing, but a mature, rich friend is well worth it and gives back much more than the effort you put forth.

Kristen's Grecian inspired urn (that took an entire semester to create) met it's end today.  Three pets are suspected though no confessions are forth coming.  Super glue to the rescue.

11.19.2010 Friday

Friday, Friday, Friday!  Long work week.  I have had the rare privilege of listening to the audio recording of "The Secret Lives of Bees."  It is said that the book is always better than the movie, but this audio book was a delight.  The young lady who narrated it was perfect.  The accent made a trip to South Carolina unnecessary.  I had just watched the movie, the audio book was much better.

The wounded foot made the day go slowly.  Couldn't decide whether is warranted an x-ray.  It really did hurt!

11.18.2010 Thursday

It's not how much you know
It's how much you can take!

It's not how much is presented
It's sorting through the mountain
and finding the nuggets of truth to keep!


Events of the day:
Dennis is released from the Wound Clinic
Lunch with Dr. Maria, confirmation of plan
Bills paid
Smashed up my left foot on the rocking horse

11.17.2010 Wednesday

Zoomba Gold, Laughing Yoga, Mindmapping...it's all good.  Very small EDAC700 class and we had student presentations about ANY topic the student wanted to present.  It was great.  Good to get out of the seat and use more than from the eyebrows to the neck.  It is exactly as Sir Ken Robinson states... (my interpretation).. Academicians only use their bodies to carry their heads about.  Why on earth there isn't recess anymore is amazing.  The Japanese have figured this out.  Americans are definitely slow adopters on some very good principles. 

11.16.2010 Tuesday

Started the day at 6:00 am and ended at 1:45am.  Ah, Post-Modernism!  This topic has unified the EdStu class.  It was the best dialogue we've had yet.  Great day of learning on all fronts.  Journal article was done entirely wrong!  So, that starts again, but I've learned.  Learned that a class mate is a grad of the Art Institute of Indianapolis.  Networking at it's best.  Read chapters of text and actually understood it.  Turned in three assignments and I'm only one assignment behind.  Is that light at the end of the tunnel?  I truly hope it isn't the headlight of the next train......

James/Holly's apartment flooded.  Kendall was hit by the bed of the treadmill when Cole figured out how to pull the pin.  We are all so thankful that no one was killed. 

11.15.2010 Monday

Morning came way too soon even with the time change, but I still managed to get an hours worth of work done before bidding adieu to the covers.  Good full day at work.  My journal article is finally written in my head, now all I have to do is commit it to paper, insert the references and clean it up.  Wow, that was a long process and my first attempt at writing about something I was not well versed in to begin with.  Opted to stay on campus to keep the flow going and it worked. 

James has the Muncie flu so I'm on duty in the morning of child care.  I hope this is an isolated case and doesn't make the rounds. 

I like the idea of qualitative research in that it is creative, fiction and immersive.  Looking forward to doing more of it. 

11.14.2010 Sunday Sacred Heart Memorial

Had a great messaging session with Peg W. this morning.  It was so good to hear from her.  She's battling empty nest, big time.  I'm hoping it's a short mourning process for her and Chris.  So, I had a late start on getting the BYKOTA lesson ready.  I had actually read it earlier in the week, but that didn't help because it was such a depressing passage Psalm 90.  Dust2Dust.  You know the one where the Psalmist is really, really depressed.  My friend Stephanie put a post on Facebook that said (and I paraphrase)  The caterpillar's tragedy becomes the butterfly to the Maker.  It was perfect for this lesson, so I made a grand late entrance to Sunday School shouting that this exactly the way I want my funeral to play out.  The bereaved are seated waiting patiently and I dash in and jump into the box up front.  I had just one more project to do!  It was mercifully a short time since the class sang an extra song, so the agony of the depressing lesson wasn't long. 

I stopped at Gilbert Street to drop and catch up and of course, stayed too long.  Mad dash home to an overdone roasted chicken, but a home cooked meal just the same.  Kristen decided to go to the memorial in Avilla, so she Dennis and I took off.  We made him drive so that we could read and sketch.  I finally made a matrix of qualitative methods and even discussed some of the text with him on the last few miles.  We were only one song late and the service was fitting. 

Dinner at Ed and Jane's was pleasant and we, again, stayed too long, but sometimes life demands detours from the schedule and today was one of them.  I drove home so thus ended the homework headway. 

11.13.2010 Saturday Beautiful morning of autumn splendor

Forgive my waxing poetic about the weather, but there just could not have been a nicer fall morning than this.  I did a small amount of computer work but then HAD to, I mean I H-A-D to go outside.  It was just too glorious to waste.  The recent snowscare made it glaringly apparent that Royal Oak is not ready for winter.  We mulched leaves and packed up stuff and filled the garden shed with it's gallery of boarders for the winter.  About mid afternoon, the skies said, "That's enough" and it started to rain and the temperature dropped quickly.  It has been so long since I've created anything with my hands that I also H-A-D to sew something.  I decided on a quick little mailbox flag that celebrates Thanksgiving....kind of a cross between a NBC peacock and barnyard poultry.  It went well, but as with all fiber art, it took twice as long as it should have taken.  I ended the night on the sofa with not much academic progress but great inroads into domestic chores and fiber therapy that is truly priceless. 

11.12.2010 Friday

Cleaned up the kitchen!  This is significant because a professor who confessed to us last spring that when he has a big writing project coming up, his wife always knows about it because he plans and strategizes while he does the dishes.  This happened to me this morning.  I wrote a new introduction for the article and then processed more of it in the dishwater.  It helped half of it was roughed out this afternoon with much better references than I've been able to find.  My class just yesterday afternoon had the texts I needed for an important part of the article.  That feels so much better AND the kitchen counters are cleaned off!  I have decided instead of getting mad at my "roomies" for trashing the counters (which I, by-the-way have to clean off)....I'm going to take their articles of clutter and put them into their beds!!  Not just thrown into their rooms, but actually in between the covers.  So they will have the nice little irritation that I experience every single night when I come home to find not one clean area in the kitchen.  I cannot work in a mess so that means that they don't get much cookin'.  One would think that the two situations would begin to become obvious...but so far it hasn't.  I've made them a sign warning  them that if they leave crap on my counters they will suffer the consequences.  They've been warned!  We've met with the WIBP staff member who is collaborating with us on the new script for The House That Pat Built.  He seems genuinely excited to be on the project and it was fun explaining it to him and Nakia.  She nor I have ever scripted before so we hope to learn much and try to have fun simultaneously.  I talked so much about The House that I was rewarded with a shiny new parking ticket.  You gotta love Parking Services and their constant conviction to earn those big bucks!  THAT is one job I could not do.  The guy was pulling away as I walked up to the truck.  At least I'm getting closer. 

11.11.2010 Thursday Veteran's Day

Started the day cleaning a space off of the window seat.  Getting a space organized just seems to give me boost.  Too bad that I have family who like to cover every possible horizontal plane with "stuff".  I should probably be thankful for these terrible habits....just think how often I get the chance to feel better, but I have to feel like crap every time I come home and all flat surfaces are humped up with stuff.  I went to investigate the new Hallmark Recordable Books before moving from working at home to working at work.  While I was ordering some some Chinese take-away I realized that I had totally forgotten about a departmental luncheon today.  I hate it when that kind of thing happens.  I had decided on the drive to work that the writer's block I was experiencing with the journal article may be from the AT office space, so I opted to move to the library for the afternoon.  That, coupled with the research I did this morning proved to be a good idea.  I should have 2 more drafts for Friday afternoon AND the prof this afternoon had two books that look promising for some of the missing documentation I've been in search of.  A good day indeed.  We watched "Bottle Shock" this evening.  A good movie about the wine industry.  Big big day tomorrow and actually a big weekend for this one.  I hope I can keep the pace brisk.  Lucky and Sunny both have surgery tomorrow and I am the dedicated vet assistant on Saturday.  Hopefully Dennis will become the animal hospital for them.  His foot has one more week and then is pronounced healed.  I know he misses the attention of a full-fledged medical emergency, but I'm having an academic one now and he's going to have to help.  If I go down so does he, but he's a tad slow to recognize this dynamic.  Here's hoping he gets a clue.

11.10.2010 Wednesday Water Closet Creativity

Started the day with making a fake pie for Kristen's art project.  It was two real crusts with tin foil balls and waxed paper filling covered with a layer of red tissue paper.  It was supposed to represent a cranberry pie for her display and has to be able to remain in the art case for a length of time.  It turned out pretty well though a tad overdone.  A piece of the crust baked off, but a few squirts of wallpaper paste fixed that situation.  Kristen was pleasantly surprised.  The student presentations on creativity were very good.  I thoroughly enjoyed the final one today.  The student (who shall remain nameless because I can't think of it tonight) had a very good presentation with video clips from the author's website and class exercises.  He said that the 5 most creative places are #1 while on the john, #2 just falling asleep/waking up  #3 while shaving (not sure how this translates to women) #4 during boring meetings  #5 while showering.  So this means in addition to toilet paper, writing paper/utensil need to be close at hand.  Also notepaper by where you sleep, during boring meetings (I've got that one nailed, I've always doodled during meetings and many ideas come then.  Finally I need to figure out some way to record thoughts in the shower.  Maybe a dry erase marker up high on the shower wall????  Since so many occur in the bathroom, it is important that the room is one you want to be in and has the necessary items to record ideas immediately.  You can use a dry erase marker on the mirror.  We've left each other messages for years doing that....just haven't jotted down ideas.  Evening class was also a good one.  I so enjoy learning from other students.  When the prof just presents their material that is only one brain exposed but when the class shares openly, there is the wisdom of 20 brains and sometimes many years' worth of experience and reflection.  The longer I am in adult education the more I value the voice of the learner.  Everyone has something to share no matter what the age or educational level. 

11.09.2010 Tuesday

Tuesdays, this semester, have typically been the start of a 48 hour marathon.  It starts with taking two of the grand kids to Bible study and then bringing a luncheon back for the Gilbert Street gang.  This is immediately followed by work, class, class and home by about 9:30pm.  Wednesday continues with work early and all day then class and night class number two.  Needless to say my Thursday night is the new Friday just because I am spent.  This Tuesday though was better.  I am making progress on a researched journal article for work, the afternoon class I actually knew what the Prof was talking about and could contribute and the evening class (though I was late struggling with printer issues) was informative and practical.  I am still way behind on turning in assignments, but they are slowly making sense and should be doable in the very near future.  Why I haven't just quit has been a puzzle.  It's not really pride...paying back the loans is a concern.  I think it is more of a project that is incomplete.  I definitely am project oriented and to walk away from one this big only fifty percent complete would be quit a defeat.  I did that once in higher education and it took many years to make up the error.  I don't want to do it again. 

11.08.2010 Monday

The student presented book reviews have proven to be very interesting in the scope and diversity of text on the broad subject of creativity.  Today's theoretical lecture was so vast that it was difficult to follow and make a logical sequential progression.  The presentation itself was wonderful, it was just the topic I had trouble following.  I am so thankful that I pursuing this degree as a seasoned non-traditional....if I had been presented with this much information as a traditionally aged student, I truly believe my brain would have exploded from the attempt to gather, organize, retain and be transformed by the avalanche of information, new concepts and theories....not to mention the application of theory to practice and what has worked and what hasn't.  My mantra of "It's not how much you know, but how much you can take" had a new line added that says "...and what you deem worthy of accepting."  It took me many years to develop any kind of filter.  I feared that I was too ignorant to apply any kind of qualifying measure to new concepts or ideas, but I now am at least confident enough to use self-talk like "that's a bunch of...."
or "that could have merit" or even just "cool".  I do like to listen with an open mind, but some things just have to enter and move on down the line without using any bandwidth.  That is somewhat liberating, not
obsessing about every little detail.  "It's not how much you know....

Watched The Secret Life of Bees as a suggestion of a good memoir.  I was moved by the film and am anxious to listen to the audio book. 

11.07.2010 Sunday

It must have been the time change or the temperature change or the fact that this semester is about to kill us, but Kristen and I were both battling some kind of downward spiraling mental funk.  She about being single, me about being old and alone.  The Colt's taking a beating from Philadelphia in the late afternoon didn't help nor the fact that Holly had a stomach upset AND fell down her parent's stairs while helping babysit in Indy. 
We DID have a fun time doing a photoshoot for an engaged couple.  It was a brilliant day (sun-wise) and perhaps being out in it helped.  The couple had a good time and we got some very nice shots.  We just didn't make much headway academically this weekend...and we both have to make some real progress to end the semester on a good note.  Holly DID complete two online classes in great shape.  She said it was a relief to have those completed. 
We had a single service at church which would have been good, but I was called out by James.  He was involved in a t-bone style fender bender on his way to church.  A couple of college kids thought the two-way stop was a four-way and James didn't have enough time to stop.  No one hurt and not really much damage to James' jeep but the kids Civic looked pretty bad.  James decided to come to our house to watch the football game and he brought Sonny with him.  She wanted, desperately, to stick her nose out the window so he unzipped the passenger side window.  When he slowed to make the turn onto Royal Oak, low and behold ... she jumped out the window!  He stopped as quickly as possible and ran around to unthread the leash.  We don't think she was hurt as she roughhoused with Chewey and Lucky all through the football game, but it was just not a great day.

11.06.2010 Saturday Time Change

Spent the entire day by myself.  Not that I was shunning people, I asked for company on several occasions....it just worked out that way.  Found the Barnes and Noble in Carmel right beside an Office Max and Don Pablos.  Went to all three without moving the car.  Found Kelly's new job site (I think) and maybe a back way to it that would save her a few minutes.  Got a little bit of homework completed and some research started.  A good day.  The extra hour's sleep was a bonus, but it's going to get dark awfully early this week. 

Here's something I have to get creative with....when waitresses (usually young one's ...late teens or early 20's) address me as "Hon" or "Honey".  Granted they introduce themselves by their first name and assume that that transparency puts them on a higher level but they don't ask my name or the names of my dining companions....so where does it become acceptable to address me by a condescending form of endearment by someone who is waiting on me and doesn't know my name until I pay with a debit card. (she wouldn't know my name at all if it were a cash transaction!)  Also, this seems to be a female phenomen only.  I am not sure how to address this issue (I won't call it a problem, because some people must like it). 1) I could squarely say "Please don't call me Hon" and risk having my food and drink contaminated.  2) I could reflect my displeasure in the tip, but would that be fair in that the wait staff would not know ahead of time that was the rule?  3)  I could leave a note saying that the flippant term of endearment is offensive.  4) Return each "hon" with an "OK...Toots" (this is my preference since it would be a way for me to be retaliatory but the same food contamination possibility exists see #1 above) or finally 5) Suck it up and enjoy a meal out and forget about the wait staff.  Suggestions are welcomed....and yes I've been accused by live-in family members of being entirely too sensitive, but I just don't appreciate being called "hon".

11.05.2010 Friday Snow.. :-(

Missed  funeral today to the poor planning of my daughter and her emergency print job (that didn't turn out to be a true emergency nor was it printed when she said it would be).  Long story short, I could have gone to the funeral and been back for the normal printing job and everyone would have been the served.  I know the reason her emergencies are so irritating is because they are exactly what I do.  I need to learn from her lack of enough prep time and avoid that myself.  arghhhhh.

Finished the afternoon with heavy wet snow.  I had heard earlier in the week that this could happen but chose to not dwell on it.  I'm just as certain as the emergency theory that the advent of winter is heralded less as one ages.  I new season used to be a great thing for me.  I liked the closure of one season and the newness of the next one.  A chance for a clean start...a different feel to the world...a different set of challenges....  but now, especially with winter and hot hot summer, I'm finding the extremes less, much less enjoyable. 

We met soggy Gnaps at the new Fusion Restaurant in the Village.  They decided to walk and were really cold and wet.  Kristen and I drug Dennis to see the Civic Theatre's production of Hello Dolly.  He slept through a goodly portion of the it, but Kristen and I enjoyed ourselves.  The idea of "the parade passing by" was in my head when I went to bed.  It's not raining on this parade...it's snowing!

11.04.2010 Thursday

The portion of The Facebook Effect that I read for work were very good.  I really didn't know that much about Zuckerberg or really even how it started....I just knew that it was college chums who wanted to stay in contact.  I was never an adopter of MySpace and I joined Facebook with a blank page that remained that way for an entire year before someone showed me the ropes and now I check it more than e-mail.  Just made a page for the S.O.S. group at BSU.  (Student's Offering Support)  A group of current, pre and post doc students in Adult, Higher and Community Ed who get together to casually reflect, share, applaud and support each other through the journey to the EdD.  It's great to hear, first hand, how someone made it work with a full time job, or a new baby or a sick spouse or loved one or how they dealt with challenging faculty or family who don't offer support or just the grueling task of the degree.  We are having such difficulty meeting this year that I thought "Let's try virtual."  If it doesn't have the same feel....or accomplish it's intended purpose, we'll have to try harder to make the physical space and face time work. 

It finally happened that one reading assignment in one class also applied to the same thing in another.  Finally, this is great....

11.3.2010 Wednesday Blog turned in today...

Wednesday survived!  Many things finished today some of the most important being review of comp questions by peers.  It's funny how it's easy to believe someone who has experienced what you have not as an expert...even if they have only done the thing once!!  People marvel at survivors even if it's something minuscule that was survived.  We all have a story to tell and many, many people are anxious not just to listen, but to hang on every single word and believe it as though it were gospel.  Interesting to sit back and watch this little drama unfold.  The awe of the listener and the instantaneous expertness of the storyteller.  It would be easy to be caught up on either side of this word volley. 

11.02.2010 Tuesday Mid Term Elections

I voted, Dennis voted, James refused, Kristen wasn't registered and I don't think Holly or Kelly or Aaron are registered either.  I am allowed to complain.  I didn't like the gifting that was going on outside the poll right up to the door.  I didn't want my vote "bought" with an emery board. 

Have started The Facebook Effect for work's article.  A good read.  Interesting to see where it came from and where they think they are heading. 

Tuesday night's class was enlightening.  The hands on activities are better for me than any lecture.  The prof guided workshops that were very instructional and great jumping off points for discussion amount the class.  I also found that most of my classmates are as stressed as I with this particular class and the workload assigned.  Somehow it's easier to take with company.  Perhaps the analogy of yesterday should be several draft horses pulling in circles.  Speaking of which, the grand kids definitely love the "Scamper" stories of my childhood.  Every week they ask to be told those as we drive to New Castle.  Maybe a book is in the offing.  That may be a good legacy.  Pet stories...I'll have to find some photos of the old biter.  He was one cantankerous Shetland pony. 

11.01.2010 Monday

November 1st!  This is crazy.  By the time November gets here, the year is essentially over.  The mad rush to the end is dizzying.  True to form my workload for this week is inhuman. Presented the book report on Monday ....no one died from it (including me).  The ambiguity of the term creative is both confusing and liberating.  If no one know, concretely what it is, then it's hard to not be accepted as a creative.  Hmmmmm.

Adult Ed has spoiled me.  Having a cohort of colleague/students since 2007 makes it easy to forget the effort required to be accepted by an established group of students and instructors.  I also easily forget how low my "good first impression" quotient is.  That's an important thing to have always before you.  It's such a relief when the acceptance reaches the tipping point.  The stress of pushing up that ramp is akin to a draft horse pulling an overloaded wagon in circles....monumental effort without any accomplishment, so to speak.  I'll get out of the ruts eventually.  It's just lonely until it happens. 

Very enjoyable evening spent in respite in the media room.  I need to soundproof that room.  I am torn between time with the husband and working on the projects I have looming.  I can't seem to do both concurrently.  I either sit with him glued to the TV or I'm sequestered in my room working.  I read an article about the preponderance of loneliness of 50 somethings.  They will go shopping, not to buy or communicate but just to be in the same vicinity of other people.  Maybe that's how he can pass depression tests.  He's not depressed...just lonely.  He needs another wife....right now I'm a grad student and I can't do both of those well concurrently either!  lol