A girl can dream...
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Just some stuff
Young Adventurer checked out this book yesterday and finished it today.
Also on his "currently reading" list are The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis and On The Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder
I think I want someone to make a movie of this. Maybe a Doctor Who episode would be better. Just not a cartoon.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Just To Clarify
It's not my laptop, and it's not my dog. She's not in the picture, but Dusty isn't my dog either.
I feel the need to go shopping.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Fitness Goals
Thank you for the coffee, Danjo! You are Magnificent!
Played Wii Fit for the first time this morning since December 1, 2008. It congratulated me for reaching my goal (albiet a little late!) and for working so hard. What is it thinking?
BMI 21.75
-7.1 lbs (how did that happen? Not complaining.)
Wii Fit age--35. Yes!!
The activities were interesting.
The kids always get a laugh out of watching mom do the hula hoop.
Tried the Balance Bubble. Destroyed confidence. "Failed." "Unbalanced." On both attempts.
Soccer Heading--there's a spiritual metaphor here. It was strangely therapeutic to watch that Mii getting knocked in the head with all those shoes. Ow! Ow! Ow! Oh, missed that one! Ow! Good! OW! OW!! This is not my best activity.
Actually the only balance game I really like is the ski slalom.
Tomorrow maybe I'll try Yoga.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Tips to Avoid Panic
According to the first place that pops up on a google search:
(as the first option?? Really??)
2. Know more about panic and anxiety
(whatever)
3. Seek Help
(this sounds promising, but the first person on the list of helpful people is a doctor. Didn't we try that in step one?)
4. Change your lifestyle
(what if that isn't the problem?)
The internet is not the best place to gather information. At least I hope not
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Wildlife
That dove is kinda large for the feeder, don't you think?
Clean doggie!
It flies. It is blue with polka dots.
Art Gallery
The Adventuring family has been creative this summer. This blog entry is devoted to some of the results.
Adventurer Two completed this cross at camp.
Venom spotted a beaded necklace like this on our vacation to the cabin in the woods, and decided to make one of her own. This is the result.
This is entitled "Too much fun, not enough cleaning of the breadbox"
I include it because it is so interesting. It is not beautiful, and it is now preserved only in JPEG form.
Young Adventurer and I went and painted pottery at one of those pottery painting places during his one day as an only child. His bowl is on the right and represents day and night, with a sunrise/sunset on the rim. Note the constellations, and that the very bottom is the moon. Mine is on the left and is meant to evoke peaceful thoughts of creeks filled with rock (you'll have to imagine the fish-I elected not to paint any), and meadows filled with flowers.
Danjo the Magnificent has been busy with yard art but I haven't taken any pictures. Trust me. It looks better than it did.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Kinda Like Having Everyone Home
So I came down the stairs a while ago and all three Adventurers were playing together with the Marble Fun thingy (item 3 on Young Adventurer's list--you know who you are--glare). They are still playing together with it. Being apart for two weeks is good.
I have not eaten any more fish.
I have seen a photograph of Adventurer Two with charcoal smeared all over her face. She usually stays very clean. She liked camp.
Looking forward to hot date with Danjo the Magnificent.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Wii Bowling
Venom--155
Young Adventurer--149
Danjo the Magnificent--136
Sidewalk Driver--100
Next time--golf.
Camp Report--a letter at last.
Adventurer Two has written. It actually arrived yesterday in a yellow envelope which we did not recognize, and was addressed not to us, but to herself. Kinda confusing. We finally decided to open it today and see if it was maybe from her. Turns out she forgot envelopes and had to borrow one from M.
It was very short, but seems to indicate she is having fun. Her activities are Hiking, Camp Craft, Nature Cross, and Archery.
In hiking they "hicked" all over and saw "the mountain"--not sure what that means.
In Camp Craft they "chopt" the wood and made a fire and it was "realy" fun.
In addition she has told M. that that she has the "best cabin ever"
M. also sent a letter which arrived today. She has watched a little squirrel eat a mushroom. She didn't say whether the squirrel seemed to hallucinate, so we must conclude that maybe it was a nontoxic mushroom. Or that the squirrel wandered off and hallucinated elsewhere.
Letters won't be so fun when the kids finally learn to spell.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Trying to stay awake till bedtime
Donna [sarcastically]: "I mean, a WASP, that's GIANT!"
[sidewalk driver laughs hysterically--I love Doctor Who!!]
The best part was the look on Venom's face when the giant wasp burst through the window.
Young Adventurer is hooked too.
I was already afraid of stinging flying insects.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Hopes and Promises
Young Adventurer drew this today to send to his sister who is at camp. He saw one at camp and hopes she gets to see one too.
Young Adventurer and I also ate lunch at his favorite restaurant, after mailing letters to camp. Then we went and painted pottery. He had a brilliant idea and took two hours to execute it on a bowl. It could be awesome. We will see in a few days. I painted one too. It has nothing to do with driving on sidewalks and contains no images of fish. All this was quite expensive, even with coupons. Not as expensive, however as it will be for a certain person (who made some rash promises last night) to buy five new (and expensive) items for Young Adventurer as he is now expecting and eagerly awaiting. You know who you are. You may have to sell your car.
As seen on Postcard received from Venom
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Gone Fishing...
Adventurer Two is off to camp. The designated driver took the opportunity to make the best of having to drive up there and went fishing with a somewhat local fisherperson.
This fisherperson had reported some success the day before so we returned to the same fishing hole.
Fisherperson Catches Fish
Nice Fishy Fish
What is it they eats?
Have they nice fisshes?
Yeah, I think Fisherperson really did eat it later, after it was dead. And that other person washed her hands and drove home. Moms can handle almost anything.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Almost forgot
Young Adventurer also discovered his prowess at the sport of ping pong. He brought home a special award. He was beating the big kids.
Who would have known?
Young Adventurer's BIG Adventure Report
Young Adventurer is home. He sports lots of dirt and two minor wounds, only one sporting a bandaid, which looks to be the only band-aid it has sported all week.
He reports many adventures (but took no photographs):
He caught a fish but managed to avoid eating it by sneaking his portion to a fish lover while no one was looking. He did not watch it being cleaned, but he did watch the head being chopped off. "It was really bloody"
He built airplanes and a bottle rocket.
He built dams on the creek with Mr. T.
His cabin encountered a rattlesnake on adventure day. He heard it rattle but didn't see it.
He loved the food, especially the brownies. Odd.
He helped catch a nightcrawler, and saw a horny toad.
He saw a bluebird, a robin, and lots of fish.
He only misbehaved once (??) but those who had him in their charge were compassionate.
He performed his biggest and most successful pretending to be asleep act this morning.
He liked hearing about Paul the Apostle (although he thought it was Thomas when he was telling the story)
He liked the songs part of Bible time but thought the rest was mostly boring.
"I've got the joy joy joy joy down in my heart" seems to have been his favorite song, especially the part about the devil sitting on a tack.
He wants to stay home for a while, but thinks he might like to go to camp again next year.
Adventurer Two leaves tomorrow...
Friday, July 10, 2009
Fun at home
Young Adventurer will have a clean room to come home to.
Adventurer Two and I have enjoyed Starbucks, Olive Garden, the library, and painting our toes.
Venom is having fun. She and Urban Ranger can report for themselves if they so desire.
I have heard the world is falling apart but I can't stop north Korea from blowing us up. I would like the city to spray the manhole covers for giant killer roaches. They torment me in my nightmares more than North Korea and Iran combined. Don't make me call The Doctor...
Now playing:
"...So take my broken offering and make it whole
Set my feet upon the road that leads me home
Let me walk as one fixed upon the goal
Even though I've got a thousand miles to go"
Or is it a million? All uphill in the snow. Wait! no! In the heat! No snow here right now. If there was snow here, Noah Wyle (didn't he used to be on ER?) wouldn't be worrying about the polar bears. I sort of like having cable, except for the commercials.
(what? a post with no pictures? What is this blog coming to?)
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Venom has Flown
Venom is on an Adventure of her own, having flown cross country to visit her aunt. The following photo is the proof that she has arrived:
Somehow it is also proof that she is indeed related to her aunt. The one remaining adventurer at home for the next few days is enjoying herself so far. She has mom to herself until Young Adventurer returns from camp, if he does indeed return. After this next photo, I am not sure where the family resemblance lies. Are you?
Well, it might be in the neck. Weird. She requested her very favorite meal for dinner: Mom's special pork chops (well, they are actually Mary P.'s special pork chops, but my kid doesn't care). She didn't have to worry that someone else would eat more than her.
We have had no word at all from Young Adventurer. Not surprising. It takes a long time to write a letter when you are a spelling and penmanship perfectionist, and he may lack the patience for it. He may be having to much fun to bother. Or maybe he is in solitary confinement. We may never know... At least not before he gets back.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
A big adventure for a young adventurer
Young Adventurer is out on a Big Adventure. He is at camp for the first time. When we arrived he jumped right in, figuratively speaking. He went wandering along the creek until both his non-creek shoes were wet. Last we saw, they were drying on the cabin porch and he was wearing his "creek shoes." Hopefully he will manage to keep them dry until the others are no longer wet. He also found a big stick to carry around with him almost immediately upon arrival. When we left, he was happy and excited. He actually shooed us away once he was officially checked in.
In the coming days he will have many adventures, we are sure. He may come home with a pencil box guitar, or learn to build dams along the creek. Hopefully he will learn about Jesus too.
In honor of his adventure, I have pictures, of course. I have also moved the Psalm for Adventurers up the blog page just for him. It is also in his suitcase.
FOR ADVENTURES:
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Independence Day
If you haven't read The Declaration of Independence in a while, read it again today.
(I haven't read it since Civics class in High School)
Mom and Dad sent this out as an email today. Credit goes to them for the idea.
The original spelling and capitalization have been retained.
(Adopted by Congress on July 4, 1776)
The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America
When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.
That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.
But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. –Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in the legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the legislative powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercise; the state remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands.
He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers.
He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our legislature.
He has affected to render the military independent of and superior to civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended legislation:
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by mock trial, from punishment for any murders which they should commit on the inhabitants of these states:
For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing taxes on us without our consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury:
For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offenses:
For abolishing the free system of English laws in a neighboring province, establishing therein an arbitrary government, and enlarging its boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule in these colonies:
For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our governments:
For suspending our own legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection and waging war against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow citizens taken captive on the high seas to bear arms against their country, to become the executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare, is undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.
We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.
New Hampshire: Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton
Massachusetts: John Hancock, Samual Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island: Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery
Connecticut: Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott
New York: William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris
New Jersey: Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark
Pennsylvania: Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross
Delaware: Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean
Maryland: Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia: George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton
North Carolina: William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn
South Carolina: Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton
Georgia: Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton
Friday, July 3, 2009
Still making up for lost time
Going back in time now, to the stay at the not-so-little cabin in the woods.
Young Adventurer enjoyed playing with Grandpa and with the dog.
He also enjoyed Grandpa's famous spaghetti. A lot!
Danjo the Magnificent after inspecting the contents of the cellar, which brought back lots of memories.
Birthday boy
Manzanita
The other Grandpa, who got a laugh out of the chocolate carrots the kids found for him. Everything is made of carrots, after all.
That's two posts in one day. So there.
Catching up after my blogging lapse
I have a flurry of pictures for those of you who think I didn't post often enough on my vacation. In my defense, my location was not a Wi-fi hotspot, but soon will be, I am assured. I could have used the local computer instead of my laptop, but my photos might have overloaded that ancient, PC-based system, not to mention tried my patience to the extreme. I'm sorry you were deprived. It was better this way. Really.
I was really, I mean REALLY glad to get to go to the beach. The weather was perfect, the water was cold. I could live at the beach.
Metal Detector Man
His haul was $.90 over a few hours.
He was smiling though. It must be fun.
Adventurer Two really needs a superhero name of her own.
Hazards of playing at the beach.
Under Construction
Kerplunk!
Artist all over. Hope this doesn't mean tattoos are in her future.
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