tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24487837421021066632024-03-05T03:53:23.229-08:00SJ's BeatSJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547057310653868190noreply@blogger.comBlogger472125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2448783742102106663.post-24474238491323578272011-05-08T16:55:00.000-07:002011-05-08T16:55:26.032-07:00McLuhan Tetrad In Audio** Cross post from <a href="http://techedu-irish.blogspot.com/">Ed Tech U</a>**<br />
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I am an avid listener to NPR and <a href="http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/">Prairie Home Companion</a> is one of my favorite programs. Yesterday morning while I was listening to PHC <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garrison_Keillor">Garrison Keillor</a> did a rendition of <a href="http://www.publicradio.org/tools/media_player/popup.php?name=phc/2011/05/07/phc_20110507_64&starttime=00:04:25.0&endtime=00:09:05.0">Little Deuce Coupe</a> which can be heard <a href="http://www.publicradio.org/tools/media_player/popup.php?name=phc/2011/05/07/phc_20110507_64&starttime=00:04:25.0&endtime=00:09:05.0">here</a>. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://greenmachines.us/wp-content/gallery/toyota_prius_2010/toyota_prius_2009_red.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="http://greenmachines.us/wp-content/gallery/toyota_prius_2010/toyota_prius_2009_red.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>It seems that almost every day I hear someone complaining about high gas prices and how much it costs to run their car. I happily chime in with "Glad I own a Prius" and then tell them my most recent gas millage (which is currently climbing to over 48 mgp!). <br />
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Since one of the themes of the course Emerging and Future Technologies was how one technology takes over for a previous one, I found this song only timely and fitting. In today's society it seems to be more important how many mpg your car gets then how many horsepower the engine has. This rendition of Little Deuce Coupe seemed like an audio version of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_McLuhan">McLuhan's tetrads</a>. I know the Prius isn't a "cool" car, but it does make a great conversation starter, and it is great on my wallet right now. <br />
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Enjoy ~SJSJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547057310653868190noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2448783742102106663.post-68484254869998774122011-04-08T06:45:00.000-07:002011-04-08T06:45:22.013-07:00Blingo<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFerNRZDdPphnudykaoBRaciKoVvfh-CRGdHFhP8fIJYL6PprhphUci-H1kH9NrlCMeh2jcfmo4D5sDJvo2E881B5crrYBG8X8veXQQ4OnYEWWtjWfIA4k55godt06RMzN2tciuW9vnpE/s1600/2011-03-16+12.22.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFerNRZDdPphnudykaoBRaciKoVvfh-CRGdHFhP8fIJYL6PprhphUci-H1kH9NrlCMeh2jcfmo4D5sDJvo2E881B5crrYBG8X8veXQQ4OnYEWWtjWfIA4k55godt06RMzN2tciuW9vnpE/s320/2011-03-16+12.22.11.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mother near the mother load of D&D coffee!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Yup, I just made up another word! I had to come out of the blogging retirement of a big move, so why not a new word. Actually, this isn't a new word, just a new word to you. Back when I first started to blog I remember telling The Mother all about it. She was at first confused what a blog was, since, well, the word blog doesn't sound like anything real at all. Once I explained to her that blog stands for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_log">web log</a>, she got it. Then we started to joke about all of the new lingo floating around that is related to technology, and that people could actually study this. We decided that this new area of study would be called blingo, short for web lingo. If you study blingo you would be called a blingologist. This thought all came back to me when I was recently reading <a href="http://brainyjane22.wordpress.com/2011/04/06/on-twitter/">a blog about twitter</a>. This blogger admitted that for the longest time when they read about "apps" they thought people were talking about appetizers! How funny, and we all know that tons of people must have thought this same thing! <br />
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Here's to The Mother, maybe one day you will become a blingologist - you could make a mighty fine one!<br />
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Enjoy ~SJSJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547057310653868190noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2448783742102106663.post-83110683309895616602010-11-11T17:04:00.000-08:002010-11-11T17:04:15.431-08:00Kind Neighbors and FocusIt has been over three weeks into my Couch To 5K running program and things are still going well. I have been doing some new runner reading in my spare time and came across an article early on that has been an inspiration. This morning I rolled out of bed and put my running clothes on. I knew it was going to be a "nice" day and that it might be one of my last our door runs until spring. The little voice in my head kept telling me that I was going to be miserable, it was going to be cold, and that I was not going to enjoy my run. And then this article popped into my head just like it does whenever that little voice gets too loud. <br />
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<h2><a href="http://www.active.com/mindandbody/articles/How-to-Focus-for-Your-Upcoming-Event.htm?cmp=17-6352"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>How to Focus Your Mind</i></span><i> </i></a></h2><i><span>"By Danny Dreyer</span><br />
<a href="http://www.chirunning.com/" target="_blank">ChiRunning</a></i> <br />
<i>Whether it's a <a href="http://www.active.com/running/5k.htm" title="5k Running Section">5K</a> or an ultramarathon, focusing your mind is the surest way to feel great throughout your race, especially as you cross that finish line. With ChiRunning, you can learn to focus your mind, moment-by-moment, and use your mind to listen to and support your body to run in a way that is both relaxing and efficient. The practice of focusing your mind can then be transferred to focusing on long term or more significant goals in your life. The key is to practice.</i><br />
<i>When you focus, you create a stronger connection between you and the object of your focus. When cooking a meal, if you think about what you want your food to taste like (instead of allowing your mind to wander), you'll end up with a more delicious meal. If you focus on the few extra pounds you may have gained this winter, you might just become more "connected" to them. If instead you focus on eating well and running consistently, that is what will happen, and those pounds will melt away.</i><br />
<i>When successful people were studied to understand how they achieve their goals, being able to focus their mind was one of the common and key skills. </i><br />
<h2 style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>To amplify the power of your mind, chose a very specific goal for your race: it could be to win your age group, to finish without pain, to enjoy yourself fully, to use your pelvic rotation, to run a specific time or to bring in $1,000 for your favorite charity. The connection that is created by focusing your mind adds something very tangible to you as a person, so it is best to focus on qualities that are truly meaningful to you. For instance, feeling strong, centered, flexible, energetic are all positive focuses that can enhance your whole life.</i></span></h2><span style="font-size: small;"><i>When you focus your mind, you set your mind and intention in a specific direction. Not letting your mind wander to the many other options that might distract you from your goal. If there is one thing we have a lot of in this life, it's options. Have you noticed the laundry detergent aisle in the grocery store? I focus on finding one that is least harmful to the environment and that does not leave a perfumed odor on my clothes which quickly narrows my options.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Let's say your goal is to run your <a href="http://www.active.com/running/Articles/How_to_Run_Your_First_Marathon.htm" title="How to Run Your First Marathon">first marathon</a>. You can then get more specific with your original goal and chose to complete your marathon injury-free. Then you can refine that goal and decide, "I don't only want to be injury-free, I want to feel great when I'm done. I want to complete a marathon pain-free and injury-free." The key to success is to get a clear goal in mind, and stick with it. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>In the movie "A Beautiful Mind," John Nash, the Nobel Prize-winning economist, is diagnosed with schizophrenia. He explains that to overcome his very intense delusions, he has to go on a "diet of the mind." He focuses his mind on what is real and chooses not to allow his mind to wander toward his delusional world. That concept of a diet of the mind is an important one when you are practicing how to stay focused on a goal for your event. Staying focused means that you don't allow your mind to entertain other negative thoughts, like not running the marathon, not finishing the marathon, finishing the event but feeling like hell afterward, finishing but never running another step because of an injury.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>This doesn't mean that you can't ever change your plans or your goal. Focusing does not mean that you block out important messages or warnings coming your way. That's not being focused, it's being stubborn, or worse. In ChiRunning, we encourage you to listen to your body and make necessary adjustments if your body is clearly telling you that running a marathon is just too long a distance with your level of training. You then adjust, and can run a <a href="http://www.active.com/running/Articles/13-Biggest-Half-Marathons.htm" title="13 Biggest Half Marathons">half marathon</a> instead.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i>When practicing ChiRunning, you focus your mind on listening to and feeling your body. It might sound simple, but it's harder to do than you think, and more rewarding than you can imagine. Your mind will want to wander, as everyone's does. You have to repeatedly stick to your "diet" and bring your mind back to engaging your core muscles, to gently leaning from your ankles, to swinging your arms to the rear. By doing this you are actually creating a stronger neuro-link between your brain and the nerves and muscles in your body. In the beginning there may be little connection, but over time, as the connection grows stronger, you will have more control over your body, and your mind. Additionally, the body and mind begin to act as one whole -- YOU -- rather than the two separate entities of your body and your mind.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Focus is a very powerful skill and one of the keys to running a successful, injury-free event. As we say on our shirts:</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Focus Your Mind</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i> Strengthen Your Core</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i> Run Like the Wind</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Choose from our four <a href="http://www.chirunning.com/shop/pages.php?pageid=79" title="http://www.chirunning.com/shop/pages.php?pageid=79">ChiRunning Training Programs</a> to help you Get and Keep Focused."</i></span><br />
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It turned out to be a great run once I got warmed up. There is this small gradual hill that is on my regular route, and no matter how fast or slow I move I always am going up the hill during the hardest point. Today it was at the end of my run, and as I am pushing up and over the top the little voice was suggesting that I just walk the rest of the way to the top. I pushed through with the positive thoughts, and just as I am cresting the hill an older gentleman is walking over the top towards me. He smiled at me and said "Great job!" That was all I needed to boost my confidence and float my way home. Two kind words to support the kind words in my head. Thanks neighbor, I hope that you read this!<br />
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Enjoy ~SJSJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547057310653868190noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2448783742102106663.post-34263835923496315572010-10-27T15:53:00.000-07:002010-10-27T15:53:55.681-07:00My Freezer<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPd-Y85-vzr0Co-9x55_K8kZjaItVFcf7BRAWswkpNys2mCjKOq6evSA24tkVb8cWgkcA0x1-kt47PMFQUCXpp74wYgumAeDPbdxmG5PMRLYagvEvATEtZV2S7qruIgessXGTvADi6zg/s320/DSCN1210.JPG" style="clear: both; margin: 0pt auto 10px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yup, I just posted a picture of my freezer on my blog!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I like to cook, and when I decide to cook I sometimes go a little overboard. Usually during my morning cereal and coffee I study a cookbook. Since cutting meat with feet from my diet and trying to incorporate as many vegan friendly recipes and ingredients, cooking now takes a little studying. Last week I made a lengthy list of recipes that I wanted to make:<br />
<div><ul><li>Minestrone (Moosewood)</li>
<li>Stuffed peppers(SJ Original)</li>
<li>Wheat/white sandwich bread (Joy of Cooking/SJ)</li>
<li><a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Apple-Breakfast-Bread/Detail.aspx">Apple bread</a></li>
<li><a href="http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/salmon-and-potato-pie/Detail.aspx">Salmon pie</a></li>
<li>"Chicken" pie (SJ Original)</li>
<li>Shepards pie </li>
<li>Spicy tomato soup (Moosewood)</li>
<li>Tomato sauce (SJ Original)</li>
<li>Zucchini soup (Moosewood)</li>
</ul>(See what I mean by a little overboard?)</div><div></div> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN7eDD4UrtZPZy1fsjhz2V9i9wVHK-KgBQkOUSV4VTzv0qhTnxiCDtyo3346qdccXDmIuw0Q6LxzDTVKPCH4JqFhSxPnKTeGeBM38Mr_oUrsP5yhAp3gmspEgyOIIn224JxyuQwlYXUWs/s320/DSCN1212.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0pt;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dorky math teacher finds humor in her labels!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>After creating the list of recipes, I then needed to make the grocery list. I will spare you the details, but it did take a trip to Shaw's and over an hour to find all of right items. By the time I got home from shopping I was exhausted, and the cooking hadn't even started. Saturday morning I woke up refreshed and ready for the challenge of cooking. I don't think that I have ever chopped or minced as many onions in my life as I did last weekend. It seemed that every recipe started with "saute onions until tender". Needless to say, the recipes list was so long that it spilled into Sunday and the last two on the list are saved for another day. I don't know how many meals all this food equates to, but I do know that dinners for the next few weeks will be a lot more satisfying.<br />
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Enjoy ~SJ <br />
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</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: right;"></div>SJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547057310653868190noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2448783742102106663.post-12066509339866331142010-10-19T17:44:00.000-07:002010-10-19T17:44:55.526-07:00And She's Off....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpRfB5rRSKrSaVdWD66zkPFVkX_jMtYywsbh4bXgA8oEk8ri3HDbTrZS9LHjcZ8CIDYks71JR1jvnlt-Mo6y4ziXm5F3_H9SZDrPneO2cPBOxOLE1zH5rlBnCQ5mDyhUXXeeTJsdlzC0Y/s1600/DSCN1203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifspZZsYibhW6xLA6BChD7mQHNH4aIDrkHL2BxlKrb26ONU4fsMSjPOMPE8wgqeKZ0KrAag1SDc_c1ZAOUn9Na-VMZN8WJzWBL8Vf0xdS4u9XNSlqX0NMVoBbDymfzXfHCzgSMHiF3zKg/s1600/DSCN1206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpRfB5rRSKrSaVdWD66zkPFVkX_jMtYywsbh4bXgA8oEk8ri3HDbTrZS9LHjcZ8CIDYks71JR1jvnlt-Mo6y4ziXm5F3_H9SZDrPneO2cPBOxOLE1zH5rlBnCQ5mDyhUXXeeTJsdlzC0Y/s320/DSCN1203.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learning all about my feet at Maine Running Company</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I realized while coaching field hockey season that I need to run. Not because I see me needing to outrun a charging moose or anything like that. More because I have a big looming birthday and I realized that what I was asking my field hockey players to do was just not in my ability range anymore. So now that the field hockey is over, I'm learning everything there is to know about running. I spent a lot of time learning all sorts of tips for new runners, and even found a training program for out of shape people like me called the <a href="http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml">Couch to 5K</a>. It is an interval training program that starts out with a lot of walking and increases over time to all running. I also downloaded and app for my iPod that times the intervals and informs me when to run or walk. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifspZZsYibhW6xLA6BChD7mQHNH4aIDrkHL2BxlKrb26ONU4fsMSjPOMPE8wgqeKZ0KrAag1SDc_c1ZAOUn9Na-VMZN8WJzWBL8Vf0xdS4u9XNSlqX0NMVoBbDymfzXfHCzgSMHiF3zKg/s320/DSCN1206.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first steps in my new kicks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>After my first run in my old kicks my feet were so sore I didn't think I would ever want to go out running again. One of the number one tips I kept reading about for new runners was to get fitted for sneakers. When I did a three day 60 mile walk a few years ago I got fitted for walking sneakers, and knew that it was time again. If you have never gotten yourself fitted for sneakers, indulge and go. This weekend I went to <a href="http://www.mainerunning.com/">Maine Running Company</a> and got myself fitted for new kicks. So after nine short weeks (although I'm sure that they will be very long) I might just be able to make it through one of my own practices. <br />
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Enjoy ~SJSJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547057310653868190noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2448783742102106663.post-18722918319239965502010-10-19T17:26:00.000-07:002010-10-19T17:26:57.310-07:00Craving, Doing, & Thankful ForFrom the fabulous River Valley Blogger Gals: <a href="http://amity.beane.org/">Amity</a>, <a href="http://katienoletteland.blogspot.com/">Katie</a>, & <a href="http://llessons.blogspot.com/">Rach</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo09P4AD7DYY-JFFRWUZYFsaCOoLz0qcuHMfQUiUtOBUbP3W7Nhaqil4NZzcPcrWMY5o8s-LQ6-eAfCyV0KkhGu4mJiXGG3Yquza0y2xxQW7c51FgB1Z5kryKFrekAfEpaIJngrHr28tc/s1600/DSCN0917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo09P4AD7DYY-JFFRWUZYFsaCOoLz0qcuHMfQUiUtOBUbP3W7Nhaqil4NZzcPcrWMY5o8s-LQ6-eAfCyV0KkhGu4mJiXGG3Yquza0y2xxQW7c51FgB1Z5kryKFrekAfEpaIJngrHr28tc/s400/DSCN0917.jpg" width="300" /></a><b>Craving</b><br />
A variety of winter hand coverings for driving, skiing, and playing.<br />
A stocked kitchen to fulfill all my vegan<br />
cooking ideas.<br />
The energy to get through my quantitative research class (and the reason for my lack of blogging).<br />
<br />
<b>Doing</b><br />
Lots and lots and lots of reading, thinking, and writing.<br />
Having fun teaching with lots of technology. <br />
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<br />
<b>Thankful For</b><br />
MacPro - the computer and the man<br />
My supportive and fabulously creative Mom <br />
My three wonderful fur-children<br />
Lower my debt one month and one payment at a time.<br />
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Consider yourself tagged!<br />
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Enjoy ~SJSJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547057310653868190noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2448783742102106663.post-47981269370943635272010-07-28T17:56:00.000-07:002010-07-28T17:56:42.629-07:00"When you know, you know! You know?"<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">or an alternative title to this post could be "And she said yes!" </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">After my morning coffee MacPro asked me to find an activity to occupy my time with inside the house and informed me that I shouldn't go outside or on the porch. Although the directions were odd, I found something to watch on Netflix in bed. After about an hour, through the sounds of cardboard and the smell of paint and came and asked me to go on for a canoe ride. I thought it was an odd time of day for a boat ride, but am always up for an adventure. Upon arriving on the dock I found that he turned the canoe into a gondola!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">He instructed me to relax and that he was going to paddle. Once getting situated in the boat, he started to paddle and sing "O sole mio" (he looked up all of the words on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%27O_Sole_Mio">wikipedia</a>). All good Gondolieres sing! He paddled us around, we watched a loon family, and then he asked the big question! I said yes (of course!), and the rest is history! Well actually, then we went to play mini golf and eat ice cream. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">It was a memorable day, and the whole thing makes for a great story! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>(FYI: No official plans as of yet. Maybe something small on the dock)</i></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOVxqJvwf5tXDmgsCA8s4CLNfwWeirbvOf_xizQxY8J0FPa6k6zHgjAaDrLNBEmIQdhx7IYnMEPo_kuvtHRFyPqY-6oIGRAK2OKEOSqvJ6foqt3813sX7cjAWJMhpCms_e0XvdTBRxlzo/s1600/DSCN0569.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOVxqJvwf5tXDmgsCA8s4CLNfwWeirbvOf_xizQxY8J0FPa6k6zHgjAaDrLNBEmIQdhx7IYnMEPo_kuvtHRFyPqY-6oIGRAK2OKEOSqvJ6foqt3813sX7cjAWJMhpCms_e0XvdTBRxlzo/s320/DSCN0569.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MacPro and his homemade gondola</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMUKap4v3ngBwQu8O1c417MCiEx3CjTj4MNUAIyKHGvFano4JuxUWl-sQm9P-Ljy1MoU1GWDnTo363reynXFQoiTtzq0Cvg8G_B2gZoAbVxtIhIh4ZkPTkA9ejCwhToPGsYFrOazfAP0/s1600/DSCN0572.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMUKap4v3ngBwQu8O1c417MCiEx3CjTj4MNUAIyKHGvFano4JuxUWl-sQm9P-Ljy1MoU1GWDnTo363reynXFQoiTtzq0Cvg8G_B2gZoAbVxtIhIh4ZkPTkA9ejCwhToPGsYFrOazfAP0/s320/DSCN0572.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MacPro singing O sole mio</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtW5_UU322XVzIVGlig-1Cc8GE9G60n2lilyEFG3Vv0lU0nlgEfF91sf1groRz-NBB3FlalvJqQUcOBLF3po3hK_1fYryQddQUJVjlaDncEfQUKFW1v_0omosvqT2Nf1dhaXd0C0kn5w/s1600/DSCN0577.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtW5_UU322XVzIVGlig-1Cc8GE9G60n2lilyEFG3Vv0lU0nlgEfF91sf1groRz-NBB3FlalvJqQUcOBLF3po3hK_1fYryQddQUJVjlaDncEfQUKFW1v_0omosvqT2Nf1dhaXd0C0kn5w/s320/DSCN0577.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SJ in the gondola</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbESpztaEvwLVryxyyvKSQMgqMgVtkLXCsEXtMVYVj-_LXFj4OCnbTL3XiorYKbxZgV6GJIufNKtAp_2GH7myGRHf03mmGauWG86Q4laDkg2zXYUjyS3BRBJ4ozx2ABV7n-Mv-cT_LM3Y/s1600/DSCN0578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbESpztaEvwLVryxyyvKSQMgqMgVtkLXCsEXtMVYVj-_LXFj4OCnbTL3XiorYKbxZgV6GJIufNKtAp_2GH7myGRHf03mmGauWG86Q4laDkg2zXYUjyS3BRBJ4ozx2ABV7n-Mv-cT_LM3Y/s320/DSCN0578.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the boat, perfect day on the lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1A1cQfcCeYta08hUa3pEXgvYhBgjqjuGzt94uK3P50UkroWwyPYzF1J2-nT8YA1L64lwbd3av6QCQ_9MvgmBnE4F5TJglrEXINE2xosClhonIEtQ3ScEbUUOBeQFDf6HeHSU7vEZ6LZA/s1600/DSCN0586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1A1cQfcCeYta08hUa3pEXgvYhBgjqjuGzt94uK3P50UkroWwyPYzF1J2-nT8YA1L64lwbd3av6QCQ_9MvgmBnE4F5TJglrEXINE2xosClhonIEtQ3ScEbUUOBeQFDf6HeHSU7vEZ6LZA/s320/DSCN0586.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loon</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_vXR4BS8sRKbv2ivz9GYnPzZtVyl5Q_qYZedzHyQat3wSSWovi7uaWBNwQ0BHK9i-rVDpv3GFIkzoqubOF8dXnnVZf24pZ9XC616lVnH-OcpNh4zJdmRTmSoFYBJZT56X3JXfdAlyqMw/s1600/DSCN0593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_vXR4BS8sRKbv2ivz9GYnPzZtVyl5Q_qYZedzHyQat3wSSWovi7uaWBNwQ0BHK9i-rVDpv3GFIkzoqubOF8dXnnVZf24pZ9XC616lVnH-OcpNh4zJdmRTmSoFYBJZT56X3JXfdAlyqMw/s320/DSCN0593.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SJ and the new ring!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5sk4t__8cVp-lYvcxvdpTPDQhf4rk4_fT3NBkpWEZ1oH6lMNcdkiG_ZNEC7qvEFyOw4ofVNuMJglc7FPsMj4WesqzlsQiHHKnsOu3sIPYlygFZec5regMmPumMzPIza6dTuWZA4-K92k/s1600/DSCN0594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5sk4t__8cVp-lYvcxvdpTPDQhf4rk4_fT3NBkpWEZ1oH6lMNcdkiG_ZNEC7qvEFyOw4ofVNuMJglc7FPsMj4WesqzlsQiHHKnsOu3sIPYlygFZec5regMmPumMzPIza6dTuWZA4-K92k/s320/DSCN0594.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mission accomplished!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SPKQ32v6ELdAuo7G4I12FaecvSSjdncbM7GyhYxddeif6mWNrwMAlWD2oSv6jpkMDZPU-cvdrWhmvK0hA3Kd2YeQofw2-GU1utUntaRhTEt6X0kcxcgHzvkuA6VD6VDEsu3LntwrJUY/s1600/IMG_0311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SPKQ32v6ELdAuo7G4I12FaecvSSjdncbM7GyhYxddeif6mWNrwMAlWD2oSv6jpkMDZPU-cvdrWhmvK0hA3Kd2YeQofw2-GU1utUntaRhTEt6X0kcxcgHzvkuA6VD6VDEsu3LntwrJUY/s320/IMG_0311.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skyping with MacPro's Mom and Sister</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1uEcl6bxnpSv8Tm_3ZIpK-AgdTK0hRS0YnHuu697SuUsr0EAooZ48SW8Pn8I8tOarWQAQaKkKQgZvCINENXbcHB3vj-VTzdtj8Pjs-paP2RRM-f5HX4PUQsfnpqj-cyt-_Cu6-yoyJ0/s1600/IMG_0323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1uEcl6bxnpSv8Tm_3ZIpK-AgdTK0hRS0YnHuu697SuUsr0EAooZ48SW8Pn8I8tOarWQAQaKkKQgZvCINENXbcHB3vj-VTzdtj8Pjs-paP2RRM-f5HX4PUQsfnpqj-cyt-_Cu6-yoyJ0/s320/IMG_0323.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What day is complete without a little mini golf?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtF8x8zBlVYCnpLUlFV8MAqw-NYE06zmAVPJL7NnfapGzXO2DicXKDmXGpZAvbyS4wgQGwLjM2E3EhDDdpPlJpD45hBoY52jNVDEKl0_ulKSTKpVecob-d1G2x0uyT30WMKyl2_0GijA/s1600/IMG_0327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtF8x8zBlVYCnpLUlFV8MAqw-NYE06zmAVPJL7NnfapGzXO2DicXKDmXGpZAvbyS4wgQGwLjM2E3EhDDdpPlJpD45hBoY52jNVDEKl0_ulKSTKpVecob-d1G2x0uyT30WMKyl2_0GijA/s320/IMG_0327.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And ice cream!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">Enjoy ~SJ</div></div>SJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547057310653868190noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2448783742102106663.post-35714335756878862712010-07-24T17:46:00.000-07:002010-07-24T17:46:10.561-07:00Cool Cat Tech Tips!<i>This is a cross post from my<a href="http://www.edtechu.org/"> Educational Technology University</a> blog. These tips are so great I needed to share twice! </i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/">Cool Cat Teacher</a> Vicki Davis just <a href="http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2010/07/its-like-im-living-someone-elses-life.html">posted </a>the most insightful list of twelve healthy online habits. If you are a fellow <a href="http://www.waldenu.edu/">Walden</a> student you might recognize Vicki from a few mentions in weekly vodcasts from EDUC 8847: Instructional Design & Multimedia.<br />
<br />
Here are her 12 tips:<br />
1) Share<br />
2) Respond<br />
3) Comment<br />
4) Link Generously<br />
5) Read (or Listen) Prolifically<br />
6) Distribute Yourself<br />
7) Beware of Flattery<br />
8) Live Life Online AND Off-Line<br />
9) Latch Key Your Legacy<br />
10) Laugh (a lot)<br />
11) Take Every Presentation Seriously<br />
12) Expect Criticism <br />
<br />
Please <a href="http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2010/07/its-like-im-living-someone-elses-life.html">click through</a> and read her detailed explanation for each of these twelve tips!<br />
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Enjoy ~SJSJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547057310653868190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2448783742102106663.post-44020038600925201542010-07-23T06:35:00.000-07:002010-07-23T06:35:00.722-07:00Friday Fill-InAnd...here we go! <br />
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1. This is what life does. It lets you <strong>have fun</strong>.<br />
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2. <strong>Stop and</strong> appreciate the moment.<br />
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3. Upon reflection <strong>I think that the loons on the pond are trying to tell me something</strong>.<br />
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4. <strong>I haven't gone camping</strong> for quite a long time.<br />
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5. Later, you wake up <strong>and sip coffee with MacPro on the porch.</strong><br />
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6. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to <strong>a walk around the pond</strong>, tomorrow my plans include <strong>measuring and planning a new project</strong> and Sunday, I want to <strong>spend countless hours at Lowes shopping for the new project</strong>!<br />
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<span class="item-star star link unselectable">Enjoy ~SJ</span>SJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547057310653868190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2448783742102106663.post-81830504788576191292010-07-22T07:26:00.000-07:002010-07-22T07:27:57.624-07:00The Shamrockettes Swim<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Last summer my amazing (and crazy) cousins started a little tradition of swimming the length of the Pond. We estimate it to be somewhere around 2 miles from Honey Run Beach to The Outlet. The Swim is a whole weekend of events. Friday night they arrive, we have a carbohydrate loading dinner, make mixed cd's for the boat, and visualize a successful swim. Saturday we try to get out and swimming before noon. And on Sunday we have brunch with our mothers and Grandmother.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Mi Prima brought along her new guy and his canoe, so we could have two boats in the water. The two boats made it safer for the swimmers since we could protect them from other boats better. The second boat even allowed me to swim a portion of the pond. MacPro has came along in one of the boats and was in charge of snacks and photos. He peeled bananas and passed them down to the swimmers along with their water bottle. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRy9EvCKQN5dKZdz5Qq35bQawzwDHvXYSsEhCtNTEmKKl8nwItM1tqBJ5_xPeC6CkGi2h1OAz1jzC1f3DHC2jUZUnfj2KrAtzdqgKM6dzLsxSaRvdzOwuDnZh1Zs1zY8HIA3KByNfkjlk/s1600/IMG_0454.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRy9EvCKQN5dKZdz5Qq35bQawzwDHvXYSsEhCtNTEmKKl8nwItM1tqBJ5_xPeC6CkGi2h1OAz1jzC1f3DHC2jUZUnfj2KrAtzdqgKM6dzLsxSaRvdzOwuDnZh1Zs1zY8HIA3KByNfkjlk/s320/IMG_0454.JPG" style="clear: both; float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And their off!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubBcv2cWzCPS3QAinYrPY-v9sr1JRdys3CReW-KiVi-W69KtBO4-6cnPZzRRpvnV6_erDnhV0xUlJAoQfwl-ucfiUdyx3ZQEz9be6MOAP2QSOj5FNwKg5_mLM29UzmPjXrB9WiXtg0sU/s1600/IMG_0477.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubBcv2cWzCPS3QAinYrPY-v9sr1JRdys3CReW-KiVi-W69KtBO4-6cnPZzRRpvnV6_erDnhV0xUlJAoQfwl-ucfiUdyx3ZQEz9be6MOAP2QSOj5FNwKg5_mLM29UzmPjXrB9WiXtg0sU/s320/IMG_0477.JPG" style="clear: both; float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MacPro and SJ</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQI8GWv4jVbPfpOP8HUUYm2Hpk2gYQTUQkVPFV65eNiV4fxcPdckPeAFneoErvXj7f_-DoHxof_rKJD397iI3H2r6wp-u9HfivCng4uhjwAu-Dh5ICwViA5Za85br5d8-kFz87Y3sy-c/s1600/IMG_0489.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQI8GWv4jVbPfpOP8HUUYm2Hpk2gYQTUQkVPFV65eNiV4fxcPdckPeAFneoErvXj7f_-DoHxof_rKJD397iI3H2r6wp-u9HfivCng4uhjwAu-Dh5ICwViA5Za85br5d8-kFz87Y3sy-c/s320/IMG_0489.JPG" style="clear: both; float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mrs. Incredible in the groove!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0Vcua5EFB9ckO6WrsB48BhX3gL81og0LX2kDkvmFS66HrrNkC4fOpcewhv_PL3Mqq1lSBNSevRJKJQ4gxJfFVLzaEub-3reKA-U-KguXpFSCIfxf9LOkXdPsc5erBwneyFyqaJg7v5k/s1600/IMG_0500.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0Vcua5EFB9ckO6WrsB48BhX3gL81og0LX2kDkvmFS66HrrNkC4fOpcewhv_PL3Mqq1lSBNSevRJKJQ4gxJfFVLzaEub-3reKA-U-KguXpFSCIfxf9LOkXdPsc5erBwneyFyqaJg7v5k/s320/IMG_0500.JPG" style="clear: both; float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look Ma - No Hands!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKIi9NzbCgMnJOwWl5HpxGq9AeFbFy3ZtQH6mooR12xBCXvuhL5kVwcd5fKSAG99encg5PZRXjaPd0qeEH00WwzB1S4q5_gYz0zhznfCMWDksH7HGshRWYk2nQQpCFSkM4NJtE6v7iAs/s1600/IMG_0512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKIi9NzbCgMnJOwWl5HpxGq9AeFbFy3ZtQH6mooR12xBCXvuhL5kVwcd5fKSAG99encg5PZRXjaPd0qeEH00WwzB1S4q5_gYz0zhznfCMWDksH7HGshRWYk2nQQpCFSkM4NJtE6v7iAs/s320/IMG_0512.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mi Prima's Guy, great addition!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHHCME2Qz9cO0t8pwJqyHhcPTluQnD2kQOFvO2Gn-Mj9mzQMl1wEvu2v4j-E3MvLUifqZESL2pVIlfrm_yJj70T8IIn4yr215SU_SMH9IjkY3wMqTUtopjgm-9DO6CCPIKT0Tmtl26fo/s1600/IMG_0530.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHHCME2Qz9cO0t8pwJqyHhcPTluQnD2kQOFvO2Gn-Mj9mzQMl1wEvu2v4j-E3MvLUifqZESL2pVIlfrm_yJj70T8IIn4yr215SU_SMH9IjkY3wMqTUtopjgm-9DO6CCPIKT0Tmtl26fo/s320/IMG_0530.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SJ giving Mi Prima a little advice "There's plenty of time"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'd like to add, she didn't hold onto the boat once!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SJ joining the swim</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXxdSgaxVwY5YBGUJFiSkEkt2rW5T0grq1jaVDUciCeBgvqWdGHITX5ziTnFd8ysAxdDlLRfNSkyqaDYy72kYFj5LOhciw0QGGGSKZE-gVOIicKLEAt-AcZ9Q_isVQGDNEohAiRPFxJY/s1600/IMG_0584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXxdSgaxVwY5YBGUJFiSkEkt2rW5T0grq1jaVDUciCeBgvqWdGHITX5ziTnFd8ysAxdDlLRfNSkyqaDYy72kYFj5LOhciw0QGGGSKZE-gVOIicKLEAt-AcZ9Q_isVQGDNEohAiRPFxJY/s320/IMG_0584.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mi Prima in the groove </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrxoR0IUsb4zPpduU_ydkzpGo8a-K88utx_3gwaCZU0pogOp9xM6yTCdEL0ddRRUDUVhz-n2R2_UHFJwtxXhShGOV4y6LAvbKt7PkYqswIZkdrvRl-s3NhbQ5ZmfhzRVlnaW8kdpjPv4/s1600/IMG_0626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrxoR0IUsb4zPpduU_ydkzpGo8a-K88utx_3gwaCZU0pogOp9xM6yTCdEL0ddRRUDUVhz-n2R2_UHFJwtxXhShGOV4y6LAvbKt7PkYqswIZkdrvRl-s3NhbQ5ZmfhzRVlnaW8kdpjPv4/s320/IMG_0626.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Shamrockettes at the end!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>With good tunes and plenty of bananas the cousins made did the swim in under two hours, shaving over 20 minutes off their time from last year!<br />
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Enjoy ~SJSJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547057310653868190noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2448783742102106663.post-45223478628242866652010-07-09T10:29:00.000-07:002010-07-09T12:06:17.693-07:00Yeah, I'm That Good!<object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3VSCn_rsiiw&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3VSCn_rsiiw&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br />
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This past year I successfully learned how to solve a Rubik's Cube. It ended up being a unit that I taught to my 8th graders. Today I decided to put my skills to the test and do it on video.<br />
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Enjoy ~SJSJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547057310653868190noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2448783742102106663.post-57019364225096746182010-07-09T05:36:00.000-07:002010-07-09T05:38:42.576-07:00Friday Fill-In<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapttv4sLE8XS7p7GfGB8OOTY6lq0qJjko1klk1e5W5VyOWysSfZvHoRXIA7RQ9PPpgMcbmMdZHmjKdANecllhfOl-w8_7s66YCvi_hkCekBHPFWts-U5o-Ren4KBhep4P2sK3bBOx-Sc/s1600/IMG_0044_phixr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapttv4sLE8XS7p7GfGB8OOTY6lq0qJjko1klk1e5W5VyOWysSfZvHoRXIA7RQ9PPpgMcbmMdZHmjKdANecllhfOl-w8_7s66YCvi_hkCekBHPFWts-U5o-Ren4KBhep4P2sK3bBOx-Sc/s320/IMG_0044_phixr.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And...here we go! </span></span><br />
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1. Layers of <b>clothes were not necessary this week in the Maine heatwave</b>.<br />
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2<b></b>. <b>A new camera and time to sit and do homework brought <b></b></b> insight.<br />
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3. I'd be willing to bet <b>this could be the best summer ever</b>!<br />
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4. <b>The wild turkey in the backyard</b> scares the dog.<br />
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5. I'm fond of <b>popsicles and movies in bed</b><br />
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6. <b>I''m having</b> too much <b>fun</b>!<br />
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7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to <b>barbecued vegetables </b>, tomorrow my plans include <b>breakfast at the Front Porch</b> and Sunday, I want to <b>relax</b>!<br />
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Enjoy ~SJSJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547057310653868190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2448783742102106663.post-30135085834459078932010-07-08T12:46:00.000-07:002010-07-08T12:46:46.703-07:00Your Next ReadOver the last few days I have been trying to get caught up on my <a href="http://www.google.com/reader">Google Reader</a> blog reading. Getting behind your Google Reader reading is like getting behind in reading Time.... they just keep coming!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdXxcXXYnGJP2QirCp8JhBjY3PL6O3me6tMmPNAVowF8zwje3HF2Ou2D9zxVO7O6vlSc9SjJfwLS390gg3SmuN07Y0bMFOVyWSb8GKtIGEndnKXJf5OaoAX3tfYmsBOkyZijG9gdOidRs/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-07-08+at+3.35.58+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdXxcXXYnGJP2QirCp8JhBjY3PL6O3me6tMmPNAVowF8zwje3HF2Ou2D9zxVO7O6vlSc9SjJfwLS390gg3SmuN07Y0bMFOVyWSb8GKtIGEndnKXJf5OaoAX3tfYmsBOkyZijG9gdOidRs/s320/Screen+shot+2010-07-08+at+3.35.58+PM.png" /></a>I have come across so many fablous new tools and tips and here is one that I have to share with you. It is called <a href="http://www.yournextread.com/us">Your Next Read</a>, and it basically recommends books to you. You simply type in the title of a book that you enjoyed and it will recommend others to you. Not only does it includ a picture of the book, but it also has reviews and summiries of it. AND (you better be sitting down for this one) it includes a link to Amazon WITH the price! Now if it could only tell me if it was available at one of my local libraries I would be all set.<br />
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I also have to give a little plug to two of my other favorite book websites,<a href="http://www.paperbackswap.com/"> Paper Back Swap</a> and <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/">Good Reads</a>. Paper Back Swap allows you to post your unwanted books that you are willing to mail away to people for free. The catch is that for every book that you give away you get a credit to get your own book. It is basically a giant network of people who want to share books. Good Reads is a social networking website that allows you to connect with your friends. You can see what books they have read, want to read, and are reading. Until I found Your Next Read I used Good Reads to find lists of books that I wanted to read. <br />
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How do you find your next book to read?<br />
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Enjoy ~SJSJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547057310653868190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2448783742102106663.post-88263474388305991072010-07-07T17:44:00.000-07:002010-07-07T17:44:25.622-07:00In this critical time<a href="http://thisisindexed.com/">Indexed </a>has been a favorite blog of mine to read for awhile now. I think it is because they play to my inner scientist/mathematician. Here is a timely one that I just had to share. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6_9OU4AdM96pwOZHlqRGbt1MgTvv8Vy_0-BBlq6dwfA5Hlhq5JuWsAkCLfqISRQl7qUh58lzTahXZHti1_hjL5IovFv6rEAnEoG-0N53pHI09zT-pilNTms_NVTIkb5LQI01x0VArTg/s1600/card2618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6_9OU4AdM96pwOZHlqRGbt1MgTvv8Vy_0-BBlq6dwfA5Hlhq5JuWsAkCLfqISRQl7qUh58lzTahXZHti1_hjL5IovFv6rEAnEoG-0N53pHI09zT-pilNTms_NVTIkb5LQI01x0VArTg/s400/card2618.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Enjoy ~SJSJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547057310653868190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2448783742102106663.post-63208416673769525392010-07-06T06:18:00.000-07:002010-07-06T07:27:54.414-07:00Expanding<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCwqeDCYGod5GOmPR1rb2N0qX5NEjEznuxNhilQeOVj6DnODfvYi7Vw3vGZdjtufmNmVSLd5YKaYxSDJPvZHLGnFqtp8ViTmRKsxJ39t_ZkNPsKFkpq51tmPiKBq5QBr5UllogsX736s/s1600/IMG_0042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCwqeDCYGod5GOmPR1rb2N0qX5NEjEznuxNhilQeOVj6DnODfvYi7Vw3vGZdjtufmNmVSLd5YKaYxSDJPvZHLGnFqtp8ViTmRKsxJ39t_ZkNPsKFkpq51tmPiKBq5QBr5UllogsX736s/s320/IMG_0042.jpg" /></a></div>It's summer so that means time to relax and get some projects done. There is no summer school for SJ this summer (beyond excited, you can understand if you have ever had the pleasures of summer school). The summer so far has been living up to expectations. My online classes are going wonderfully, learning lots of wonderful new stuff, "meeting" new people, and create wonderful new products. I have a new blog dedicated to talking about the world of educational technology. It even has its own domain (huge thank you to MacPro!), you can find it at <a href="http://edtechu.org/">http://edtechu.org/</a> I have been working on creating a website all about me (professionally) in hopes of spreading my word and name. Did a photo shoot last week (again, huge thank you MacPro!) for the pic of me on the new website. Done tons of reading both professionally and personally, bought a new camera, and have even enjoyed my dock! Overall I would give summer '10 an A+ so far!<br />
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Enjoy ~SJSJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547057310653868190noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2448783742102106663.post-28813711238111444922010-06-14T05:48:00.000-07:002010-06-14T05:48:58.417-07:00End Of The Year Wrap-UpWhen you say "another year gone by" most people are saying this in January, but teachers (like their students) count years from September to June. Those months between June and September are special months filled with the excitement of not being bound to an alarm clock, filled with late lunches, and leisurely mornings. It's getting to be the end of another year, some schools are already out, and some of us are down to the wire counting the days left. <br />
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This past school year was a successful one! My students were funny and entertaining, they worked hard when they needed to, and knew when to have fun. We learned how to solve Rubik's cubes, some with more success then others. We can all solve basic algebra equations. And we all got to enjoy a few days in Quebec.<br />
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There are all sorts of ways to know when the end of the school years is coming. Sometimes your students even go out of their way and get you a gift, and this year I have to say I think I got the best gift ever. Check it out! <br />
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Enjoy ~SJSJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547057310653868190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2448783742102106663.post-20115596504631516972010-05-22T08:15:00.000-07:002010-05-22T08:17:36.767-07:00Google and Pac-ManSo apparently Pac-Man turns 30 today (didn't know that we shared the same birth year....). I can't do as big of a tribute to this amazing game as Google did though! Not only can you saarch for site through Google today, but you can also play Pac-Man!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6jU1qE250mXaBx3HhydZCuMe_IoJdL6kr2yRaKzYCOXpfVqhYnEkF2Ne4mzpoPFNuPG3UqIaAdYwFfYIvzmj4HTIgtZv_WR461NjE2mldVRa0fKjSiCIZQx7Z6x1VykDnxaZWDF0RiY/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-05-22+at+11.14.34+AM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 162px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6jU1qE250mXaBx3HhydZCuMe_IoJdL6kr2yRaKzYCOXpfVqhYnEkF2Ne4mzpoPFNuPG3UqIaAdYwFfYIvzmj4HTIgtZv_WR461NjE2mldVRa0fKjSiCIZQx7Z6x1VykDnxaZWDF0RiY/s320/Screen+shot+2010-05-22+at+11.14.34+AM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474113720262570690" border="0" /></a><br />Enjoy ~SJSJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547057310653868190noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2448783742102106663.post-46797663144856422242010-05-13T12:55:00.000-07:002010-05-13T12:56:48.478-07:00Time CrunchI feel like this......<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6a9VIiT5jKfnIDLStQjANYiXB81R6yHF5ryd0Yrku1YeN-7W5f3llvEX9yVrE6j53LNMs7ChAPLFYzU8cpIUt7NDuNClImPZ267QCKwk6zwf0vaZj58AyDl5vP13RVL854GgTj_Xboc/s1600/time+crunch.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6a9VIiT5jKfnIDLStQjANYiXB81R6yHF5ryd0Yrku1YeN-7W5f3llvEX9yVrE6j53LNMs7ChAPLFYzU8cpIUt7NDuNClImPZ267QCKwk6zwf0vaZj58AyDl5vP13RVL854GgTj_Xboc/s320/time+crunch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470845897228741186" border="0" /></a>Do you?<br /><br />Enjoy ~SJSJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547057310653868190noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2448783742102106663.post-86399465928377770182010-04-20T15:41:00.000-07:002010-04-20T15:54:03.501-07:00What have I been up to?Well my dedicated blog reader(s) (I know there are a few of you still out there, at least The Mother still reads.... right? Leave a comment if you came by, please!), I have been busy. When I rattle the question "busy doing what" around in my head nothing crazy like shark tank diving (must put on to do list). It has been a just kind of normal busy. MacPro and I (ok, mostly MacPro) has been working in the yard. There are big doings around the Shamrock - new retaining wall in the front, grass being planted, porch being built, more grass, and a firebrick pizza oven (I know, you just gasped, I heard it).<br /><br />School has been crazy. I am organizing fantasy baseball for all of my math students and the staff. I know, crazy since I a) don't know a lot about baseball and 2) have never even played fantasy baseball. If that weren't enough I'm also planning an RSU-wide math fact bee, it's just like a spelling bee only with math facts.<br /><br />The last thing that has been occupying my time is my course work. Besides The Never Ending Paper (it needs all capitals, it is that epic), I am also taking a course on the evolution of educational technology, and getting ready to go to my second residency. A residency is some quality face-to-face time with professors, other students, and faculty members that makes up for all of the online learning. The one I went to last year and Dallas was wonderful, so I look forward to my four days in Nashua, NH.<br /><br />Enjoy ~SJSJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547057310653868190noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2448783742102106663.post-81364610864614667082010-04-11T07:12:00.000-07:002010-04-11T07:28:54.004-07:00And the Panda Gets An FI just read this <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125773728&sc=fb&cc=fp">article</a> on NPR about a new book. The premise of the book (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Animal-Review-Mediocrity-Breathtaking-Stupidity/dp/1608190250">The Animal Review</a>) is that two friends (Jacob and Steve) started a <a href="http://animalreview.wordpress.com/">blog</a> a few years ago handing out grades to animals. The rank the animals on a variety of skills, talents, and adaptions that they have.<br /><br />Here is what The Animal Review guys had to say about the Panda (please keep in mind that the Panda might be one of my favorite animals because, well they are so darn cute!)<br /><h4 style="font-style: italic;" class="edTag">Panda: F</h4><p style="font-style: italic;">"Pandas have absolutely no interest in reproducing. They rarely mate," Lentz says. That goes against the raison d'etre of a species. "We spend all this money flying these animals around the world, trying to convince them to mate, and we could spend it on a lot of other stuff."</p><p style="font-style: italic;">"Second of all, they eat bamboo. They're not supposed to eat bamboo. Their bodies are not adapted to digest cellulose, but they hang in there with the bamboo. But the result of that is that they have to eat a ton of bamboo," he says. "They don't have a lot of energy to do things like — to mate."</p><p style="font-style: italic;">"That could be Nature kind of hinting around the fact that they should collectively shuffle off this mortal coil."</p><p>As some of you may know I traveled to China (the country not the town in Maine) a few summers ago. Seeing pandas, and the Great Wall might have been the high points of the trip for me. Since I had never seen a panda before my travels to China I was very anxious to see a real live panda in the fur. So as soon as we got to the zoo I found my way to the panda pagoda and here is my first view of a panda......<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82RwwWCz9kZR8TkPMrXD80z304jPEOr5zqnifGVxhCgzpYlYWql6-lIZSrOggulmgVN1RjfStW_CdQIWi2iN3jtuZv2ew05eY3k04C2wx1eCWKc-BX-IeUNY9qhmph62-mwlQqO2IgJY/s1600/IMG_0468.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82RwwWCz9kZR8TkPMrXD80z304jPEOr5zqnifGVxhCgzpYlYWql6-lIZSrOggulmgVN1RjfStW_CdQIWi2iN3jtuZv2ew05eY3k04C2wx1eCWKc-BX-IeUNY9qhmph62-mwlQqO2IgJY/s320/IMG_0468.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458885423876524146" border="0" /></a></p><p>I do believe my words were "I traveled over 12,000 miles to see a panda behind!" Don't worry, about this first one was laying so that we could get a wonderful view of its behind, as we moved through the pagoda they animals got more exciting to watch. There were several eating, and one even interacting with the zookeeper. I think that The Animal Review guys might need to go and visit a panda in person before they rank the animals. The panda at least deserves a D- since it lays around at zoos showing off its behind!</p><p>Enjoy ~SJ<br /></p>SJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547057310653868190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2448783742102106663.post-6579157325418019092010-03-06T16:37:00.000-08:002010-03-06T16:51:58.670-08:00March 6, 2010After a wonderful adventure "Down South" for sushi (yes, MacPro and I drove over 50 miles one way for some raw fish!), I decided on the way home to get the motorcycle out. The temperature was over 50 for most of the day, and I saw a lot of other bikes on the road. Here is a little video of the first ride......<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx4F7vjSpmMlFhvaQiaGb43xyLIhRs86LIc9vO7-jGZnfKKJDCK5wCDkkIi1WlYnyn5gCKl4Epck6cZe8v-tQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Enjoy ~SJSJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547057310653868190noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2448783742102106663.post-40519392228346599812010-02-14T14:37:00.001-08:002010-02-15T06:15:27.727-08:00Getting To Know Me<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Thanks to <a href="http://katienoletteland.blogspot.com/">Katie</a> and <a href="http://llessons.blogspot.com/">Rach</a> for this one.....<br /><br />1. What time did you get up this morning?<br />Around 7-ish, its vacation who looks at the clock when you get up?</span> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />2. How do you like your steak?<br />Nope, it has feet so I'm not eating it<br /><br />3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?<br />Harry Potter this summer (sad but true)<br /></span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />4. What is your favorite TV show?<br />The Office and 30 Rock</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?<br />I love where I live now, but more sun and warmer temperatures might be nice.<br /><br />6. What did you have for breakfast?<br />Coffee and wheat Chex</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />7. What is your favorite cuisine?<br />Right now sushi<br /></span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />8. What foods do you dislike?<br />Mushrooms</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />9. What is your favorite place to Eat?<br />I have lots of favorites, The Bistro, Slates, my Mom's house.....</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />10. Favorite dressing?<br />Bleu cheese.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />11.What kind of vehicle do you drive?<br />Subaru Impreza WRX<br /></span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />12. What are your favorite clothes?<br />Jeans and a fleece vest<br /></span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />13. Where would you visit if you had the chance?<br />Galapagos Islands<br /></span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full?<br />1/2 full, no other way.<br /></span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />15. Where would you want to retire?<br />That is a long ways away.<br /></span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />16. Favorite time of day?<br />That time of the day where you have all your work done and it is time for yourself. I also like sunny mornings.<br /></span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />17. Where were you born?<br />Farmington, Maine.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />18. What is your favorite sport to watch?<br />I don't really watch sports.<br /></span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />19. Who do you think will not tag you back?*<br />20. Who do you think will tag you back first?*<br />21. Who are you most curious about their responses to this?*<br /><br />22. Bird watcher?<br />Nope, but I do like to go to the aquarium and watch the penguins (I almost had a job in college as a penguin tank cleaner, but went for the after school outreach program instead.)<br /></span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />23. Are you a morning person or a night person?<br />Morning.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />24. Do you have any pets?<br />Two cats Phoebe and Stanley, and a husky Sasha<br /></span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share?<br />I'm on vacation!</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />26. What did you want to be when you were little?<br />Dolphin Trainer<br /></span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />27. What is your best childhood memory?<br />Swimming with a sea turtle for the first time<br /></span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />28. Are you a cat or dog person?<br />Cat.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />29. Are you married?<br />Nope!<br /></span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />30. Always wear your seat belt?<br />Yes.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />31. Been in a car accident?<br />Not really<br /></span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />32. Any pet peeves?<br />Not pushing in chairs and straightening around the desks (can you tell I'm a teacher?)<br /></span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">33. Pizza?<br />Feta, peppers, garlic, and basil<br /></span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />34. Favorite Flower?<br />Tulips</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />35. Dessert?<br />Ice cream please!<br /></span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />36. Favorite fast food restaurant?<br />No I don't like fast food, and it doesn't like me!</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />37. How many times did you fail your driver's test?<br />Once</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />38. From whom did you get your last email?<br />My advisor giving me feedback on a paper<br /></span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />39. Which store would you choose to max out<br />your credit card?<br />I would have to have a credit card first, which I don't.....<br /></span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />40. Do anything spontaneous lately?<br />Today is spontaneous adventure day with Mi Prima!<br /></span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />41. Like your job?<br />I love it.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />42. Broccoli?<br />Yup.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />43. What was your favorite vacation?<br />When I was 9 my family rented a sailboat and we sailed around the Caribbean, that was wonderful!<br /></span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />44. Who was the last person you went to dinner with?<br />MacPro, on Saturday we went to Dunkin Doughnuts, for sushi, and then to Arby's (I had a potato). <br /></span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />45. What are you listening to right now?<br />The dish washer, the wind, and the wind chime.<br /></span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />46. What is your favorite color?<br />Red</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />47. How many tattoos do you have?<br />None.</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />48. How many are you tagging for this quiz?*</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">49. What time did you finish this quiz?*</span></div> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 10px; clear: none; line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />50. Coffee Drinker?<br />Yup, drinking some right now!<br /><br />*Those questions are just not fun, I'm with Katie and not going to answer them!<br /><br />Enjoy ~SJ<br /></span></div>SJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547057310653868190noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2448783742102106663.post-25923633913122467312010-02-07T16:41:00.000-08:002010-02-07T16:53:22.938-08:00Cooking Challenge 4This weeks menu did not come from a cookbook, but it came from my head. There is a local restaurant in town that happens to be a favorite of MacPro and I (and a few River-Valley Blogers since I see them from time to time there). We both love one of the dishes on the menu, Gorgonzola Alfredo. Every time I get it I ohh and ahhh over how wonderful it is, and then the cook inside me thinks "how hard can this really be to make", and then I am off trying to perfect it. Tonight was one of those nights, I attempted to make Gorgonzola Alfredo and much admit that it came out amazing. Below is the recipe that I created.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gorgonzola Alfredo</span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwISxLECOWjF7Ax6F3yx5fQcLi_YqiCArdCWPwnAyBCgTErC1Dz_WvfxQ9DCtdkkXzWdUbq_5YkpKcUDJWZILjUUs_TAEr2AGZ5-GbHdfWYuuMm27YkfkrOeU97CXexsUnOcrb548H7mc/s1600-h/DSCN0246.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwISxLECOWjF7Ax6F3yx5fQcLi_YqiCArdCWPwnAyBCgTErC1Dz_WvfxQ9DCtdkkXzWdUbq_5YkpKcUDJWZILjUUs_TAEr2AGZ5-GbHdfWYuuMm27YkfkrOeU97CXexsUnOcrb548H7mc/s320/DSCN0246.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435669122275181714" border="0" /></a><br />1 cup gorgonzola cheese<br />1 1/2 Tb butter<br />1 1/2 cup milk<br />3 Tb flour<br />salt, pepper, and garlic to taste<br /><br />1 bunch of fresh cooked asparagus cut into pieces<br />1/2 of a finely chopped onion (saute until cooked)<br />1/3 cup of roasted red peppers<br /><br />Mix the cheese, butter, and milk in a sauce pan over a low heat making sure that the milk does not scald. Once the ingredients are well combined, thicken the sauce one tablespoon at a time with flour. Mix well and wait between tablespoons, once it has come to a thickness that you are happy with add the salt, pepper, and garlic to taste. Once your sauce is thickened and seasoned add the asparagus, onion, and peppers. Let simmer for a few minutes to let the flavors blend. Serve over your pasta of choice.<br /><br />At the end of dinner I relized that I had forgetten to put in the tempeh, oh well. I also decided that this was a sauce to bring out when you want to impress people with your simple yet advanced sense of cooking. Feel free to claim that you made up the recipe yourself!<br /><br />Enjoy ~SJSJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547057310653868190noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2448783742102106663.post-61250475738192994582010-02-03T14:41:00.000-08:002010-02-03T14:52:16.730-08:00"Where Everybody Knows Your Name"There are many downsides to living in a small rural community: no thai food in the wee hours (ok, scratch that, no thai food!), no pizza delivery, limited food choices at the grocery store, few stores to do your shopping at. Ok, the list could go on and on. But there are definitely up sides to living here as well. This whole thought came to me after running into fellow River Valley Blogger, <a href="http://katienoletteland.blogspot.com/">Katie</a>, at Wal-Mart. No matter where you go in the community, there is always someone to stop and say hello to. My grandmother is famous for not being to go anywhere in town without hearing "Hello Mrs. Irish"! How can you put a price tag on that?<br /><br />Enjoy ~SJSJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547057310653868190noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2448783742102106663.post-64924459044092498402010-01-24T17:38:00.000-08:002010-01-24T17:45:26.870-08:00Three Blind MiceI got Stanley a new package a those little realistic looking mice toys today while I was in the supermarket. I actually planned the purchase while driving to the store. I was feeling bad for him since these little mice toys are his favorite and his most recent one (and only one in the house) had gone missing. The supermarket had a package of a dozen of them for around $6 ($0.50 per mouse does now seem a little steep, but the pleasure they bring him and the laughs it brings MacPro and I are priceless). Earlier this evening MacPro brought the remains of these toy mice to me in the kitchen. Apparently I had forgotten to put them in the toy cabinet and had left the package sitting in the living room. Stanley, in his attempt to get them out of the cat-proof packaging decapitated at least three of these poor mice. The living room is a mess of little pieces of fake fur, eyes, and chalky insides!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8bjfzP1QjH8Vz-2kbRXL-AIAEmsZK0pMBvQiscfFLxQBSRKNMORlHmUTyIhdQSmTeunFNhlJvXYFh2X0VIMbY2q8IiorydpqEY-265pntuBtb1YdzrLxcYcmb9EHrHhc2zxFHZcHK0I/s1600-h/DSCN0234.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8bjfzP1QjH8Vz-2kbRXL-AIAEmsZK0pMBvQiscfFLxQBSRKNMORlHmUTyIhdQSmTeunFNhlJvXYFh2X0VIMbY2q8IiorydpqEY-265pntuBtb1YdzrLxcYcmb9EHrHhc2zxFHZcHK0I/s320/DSCN0234.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430486217864393618" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Three Blind Mice"</span></span> - <span style="font-style: italic;">Original work by Stanley The Manly</span><br /></div>Enjoy ~SJSJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547057310653868190noreply@blogger.com0