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Thursday, July 28, 2011
Midweek snippets...
Had a wonderful three hour visit with my Mom on Sunday. I loved seeing the surprise on her face when I walked in...I realize it might not be too long before nothing will register when she sees me, but I hope that can be a long time from now. She was calmer and more coherent than she's been in months (at least when I've been around) and it was a joy to show her my needlework and look through hundreds of Facebook photos with her.
I've just ordered and received my copy of The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions, on the recommendation of Ann Voskamp from A Holy Experience. When I get home I'm going to work my way through it in 13 weeks per her suggestion.
Rick Perry looks closer to running every day, and it appears that Mitt Romney will be the loser. Ah well...
I believe I've mentioned YNAB budget software before, but if you're not familiar with it, here's a nice review by Tim Challies. If I swore, I'd swear by it.
My conversion to Apple gets more complete all the time. I'm now running a MacBook Pro, an iPhone4, and an iPad2. As soon as life slows down, I'll finish the conversion by getting a Windows platform on the Mac so that I can run all the programs I use that aren't compatible with Mac or that Mac just hasn't mastered yet. Like Office 2010.
For you natural history and biology buffs, this is simply astounding.
And despite the references to evolution, here's another fascinating study:
Researchers from Oxford University studied the eye sockets and brain capacity of 55 human skulls from 12 different populations across the world and found that the further human populations live from the equator, the bigger their brains.
It's not because they are smarter, however, but because they need bigger vision areas in the brain to cope with the low light levels at high latitudes, the scientists said in a report of their findings in the journal Biology Letters.My summer is flying by, and it's time to start getting serious about the school year. With just two students left, my workload is not what it used to be, but I am determined to finish well. This year I will be teaching geometry to my boys and assisting in their history (still Tapestry of Grace). The rest they'll be taking at co-op or, in the case of John Caleb, the community college. I think I'll be driving more than teaching. 26 years ago I could hardly have imagined where this journey would lead!
And now, it's time for me to cool off with (another) Diet Coke. Have a great weekend, y'all!
Labels: Decorating, Devotional, Homeschooling, Money, Political Observation, Science, Technology, Texas, Weather
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Sunday snippets...
Here we are a week and a day after the big wedding and just getting back to 
"normal". That's in quotes because normal is a family joke here at Granny's House and in our adjacent family households. It doesn't look like what you'd think...
We still have a lot of straightening up and organizing to do, filling in holes left by our bride and putting away some of the decor. I haven't been too obsessive about it, as we still have big changes coming. Kristen and the elves, who are quickly growing out of elf stage, are moving out on Saturday and will be setting up their new home in Fort Worth. Sad as this makes me, I'm rejoicing with them that all the week-long separations are over and their family can be together full-time.
Have I mentioned how good it is to be rid of Windows Vista? The new computer is fine, but I don't have many new bells and whistles so it doesn't seem all that different...but oh, how I love you, Windows 7!
But in case I haven't said this yet, I am sincerely hoping my new HP survives me. I can't even tell you how much I detest switching computers. Every program, every application, every database has a different 26-step process for transferring it to the new computer. And two of those steps generally involve writing the help desk at the developers and promising them your firstborn child if they'll just find a way to magically get it all transferred. No, external hard drives and "Easy Transfer" cables have not been the panacea some promised me. I'm still dyin' over here.
And in other techy news, I continue to enjoy my new iPhone 4. NOW I see why so many people love their iPhones while I hated my old one. And I mean hated it almost from the month I got it. Now if we could just get 3G to work in San Antonio, that might help, huh?
I finally finished a book last week (see sidebar). My reading has been awfully sporadic this year, and I won't complete nearly as many books as I normally do in a year. Even with my Kindle, which is most of the time in the hands of my traveling husband, I haven't done all that well. This will be on my New Year's resolution list. Yeah.
School took a hit during the past three weeks, but because we got such an early and successful start this year, I'm not beating myself up. Tim's freshman year is perking along and I'm enjoying the increased one-on-one time with him.
Okay, I realized a couple of days ago that I will be traveling, as in AIR travel, on the morning after the election. How could this political junkie have managed to schedule THAT? I will need to be at the Honolulu airport by around 10 on the morning of the 3rd for my flight home, which leaves precious little time to catch up on late returns and close races. Ugh.
Don't ever, EVER go to Maggiano's and not get their Crispy Zucchini Fritte. I'm here to tell you that would be a very bad idea.
Every one of those Sister Wives deserves her criminal husband. Sheesh.
This weekend, The Papa and I had the pleasure of being with our church family, and I do mean family, at a retreat in the scenic (and cooler-than-San Antonio) Texas Hill Country. Meticulously planned and exquisitely executed by our deacons' wives, it provided a welcome refreshment for more than 80 of us. We came home after the first night, as John was tasked to preach at the worship service for the group who stayed behind, but even so we had a glorious taste of what "retreat" means :-)
TOMORROW is the first day of early voting in Texas. As soon as the day's schoolwork is finished, I will be at the polls casting one of the first votes for the firing of the majority and the reinstatement of common sense (See Atlas Shrugged, please.) No one will be more glad than I am to see Nancy P. collect an unemployment check. Okay, well, collect a six-figure pension. But still.
If you're one of my friends in Texas Congressional District 23, VOTE QUICO CANSECO!!
Hoping you have a most excellent week, savoring the blessings of God's grace!
"normal". That's in quotes because normal is a family joke here at Granny's House and in our adjacent family households. It doesn't look like what you'd think...We still have a lot of straightening up and organizing to do, filling in holes left by our bride and putting away some of the decor. I haven't been too obsessive about it, as we still have big changes coming. Kristen and the elves, who are quickly growing out of elf stage, are moving out on Saturday and will be setting up their new home in Fort Worth. Sad as this makes me, I'm rejoicing with them that all the week-long separations are over and their family can be together full-time.
Have I mentioned how good it is to be rid of Windows Vista? The new computer is fine, but I don't have many new bells and whistles so it doesn't seem all that different...but oh, how I love you, Windows 7!
But in case I haven't said this yet, I am sincerely hoping my new HP survives me. I can't even tell you how much I detest switching computers. Every program, every application, every database has a different 26-step process for transferring it to the new computer. And two of those steps generally involve writing the help desk at the developers and promising them your firstborn child if they'll just find a way to magically get it all transferred. No, external hard drives and "Easy Transfer" cables have not been the panacea some promised me. I'm still dyin' over here.
And in other techy news, I continue to enjoy my new iPhone 4. NOW I see why so many people love their iPhones while I hated my old one. And I mean hated it almost from the month I got it. Now if we could just get 3G to work in San Antonio, that might help, huh?
I finally finished a book last week (see sidebar). My reading has been awfully sporadic this year, and I won't complete nearly as many books as I normally do in a year. Even with my Kindle, which is most of the time in the hands of my traveling husband, I haven't done all that well. This will be on my New Year's resolution list. Yeah.
School took a hit during the past three weeks, but because we got such an early and successful start this year, I'm not beating myself up. Tim's freshman year is perking along and I'm enjoying the increased one-on-one time with him.
Okay, I realized a couple of days ago that I will be traveling, as in AIR travel, on the morning after the election. How could this political junkie have managed to schedule THAT? I will need to be at the Honolulu airport by around 10 on the morning of the 3rd for my flight home, which leaves precious little time to catch up on late returns and close races. Ugh.
Don't ever, EVER go to Maggiano's and not get their Crispy Zucchini Fritte. I'm here to tell you that would be a very bad idea.
Every one of those Sister Wives deserves her criminal husband. Sheesh.
This weekend, The Papa and I had the pleasure of being with our church family, and I do mean family, at a retreat in the scenic (and cooler-than-San Antonio) Texas Hill Country. Meticulously planned and exquisitely executed by our deacons' wives, it provided a welcome refreshment for more than 80 of us. We came home after the first night, as John was tasked to preach at the worship service for the group who stayed behind, but even so we had a glorious taste of what "retreat" means :-)
TOMORROW is the first day of early voting in Texas. As soon as the day's schoolwork is finished, I will be at the polls casting one of the first votes for the firing of the majority and the reinstatement of common sense (See Atlas Shrugged, please.) No one will be more glad than I am to see Nancy P. collect an unemployment check. Okay, well, collect a six-figure pension. But still.
If you're one of my friends in Texas Congressional District 23, VOTE QUICO CANSECO!!
Hoping you have a most excellent week, savoring the blessings of God's grace!
Labels: Body of Christ, Books, Family, Food, Homeschooling, Political Action, Technology, Texas, TV
Thursday, February 15, 2007
UPDATE on Gov. Perry's plan to violate parental rights...
From yesterday's Houston Chronicle article:
(And speaking of circumventing, I was not aware until today that this was not a bill that passed the legislature and went to the governor for signature. This was done by executive order, bypassing any consultation with the legislative side. We are now waiting on a clarification from the state attorney general on whether the governor even has the authority to issue such an order.)
Alternate numbers for Gov. Perry:
1. (512) 463-2000--office
2. (512) 463-782--Governor's Comment line
3. (800) 252-9600--citizens hot line
4. (800) 843-5789
5. (512) 463-1849--fax
AUSTIN — The Texas House will take its first step Monday to overturn Gov. Rick Perry's mandate that schoolgirls be vaccinated against a sexually transmitted virus linked to cervical cancer.
The House Public Health Committee posted notice Tuesday that it will hold a public hearing on a bill that would pre-empt Perry's order and prevent the human papillomavirus vaccine from being required for admission to any elementary or secondary school.
"The governor has accomplished his goal of bringing attention to this issue," said Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, author of the bill. "All citizens of Texas will have an opportunity to come to Austin to give an opinion."
The text of the relevant portion of the bill reads:
Immunization against the human papillomavirus may not be required for a persons' admission to any elementary or secondary school. This subsection preempts all contrary orders of the governor.
Rep. Bonnen has already signed 60 co-authors onto his bill. And he will need them: it will take a 2/3 majority in both houses to override a self-evident gubernatorial veto.
The bill will be heard in committee on Monday. If you live in Texas, please call your representative and urge support of H. B. 1098. You can also call Gov. Perry's office (1-800-843-5789) and urge that he rescind the executive order mandating the vaccine before 6th grade girls can be registered for school.
Just to reiterate: I am not speaking to the efficacy, the safety, or the advisability of the HPV vaccine. I heard from many of you by email on the relative merits and concerns about the vaccine and you had wonderful points. My purpose in this venue is to strenuously object to the governor's order circumventing the right of parents to make medical decisions for their daughters in the absence of any true public health crisis on the order of polio, measles or tuberculosis.(And speaking of circumventing, I was not aware until today that this was not a bill that passed the legislature and went to the governor for signature. This was done by executive order, bypassing any consultation with the legislative side. We are now waiting on a clarification from the state attorney general on whether the governor even has the authority to issue such an order.)
Alternate numbers for Gov. Perry:
1. (512) 463-2000--office
2. (512) 463-782--Governor's Comment line
3. (800) 252-9600--citizens hot line
4. (800) 843-5789
5. (512) 463-1849--fax
Labels: Health, Political Action, Texas