Yesterday was a good friend's birthday. While having a relaxing celebration around her outdoor fire, we learned that today would be another friend's birthday. The Husband's boss/friend to be exact. The Husband noted that there would be a department meeting today and that it would be fun to surprise his boss with a cake for her birthday.
He turned to me and said, "Would you make her a cake tomorrow?" I glanced back and he quickly added, "Or you would you mind picking one up in town while you're there tomorrow?" I kind of chuckled to myself. In no way do I mind making a cake, but I don't usually have cake mixes in my house. (Note I said cake mix - yeah, I'm not the make-a-cake-from-scratch type...although I want to give it a go sometime.) Anyway, he was in luck as I actually did have 2 cake mixes in my house thanks to my mom giving me a baking-basket gift for my birthday a month ago (pans and mixes).
So, I said, "No problem" and added cake baking to my list of things to do. My dilemma arose when I remembered I had no icing in the house. I live 20 minutes or so from the nearest town with a grocery store and didn't feel like putting The Wee One in the car and spending 40 minutes (there and back) just to get icing. So I pulled out a cookbook and searched for an icing recipe that I could put together with things I had in my house. I did have the necessary powdered sugar, but only 1 cup worth. Crap! So, I made a very simple icing and spread it as thin as I could to cover the very simple cake.
I pulled out candles, plates, serving utensils, and ran the cake over to The Husband, hoping that his boss would take the "it's the thought that counts" philosophy when looking at the cake. Verdict: he came home with a completely empty cake dish. All of this goes to prove that I really am sweet...
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
A true friend last for all time...
There is a little coffee shop in a neighboring town where I sometimes go to get work done. (Remember, I'm supposed to be working on my dissertation to get it completed...um yeah.) Anyway, as I sat there yesterday, diligently transferring my survey results to readable statistical data, I noticed two older ladies sitting at a table nearby chatting with each other.
It was obvious from their conversation that they have known each other for many years. (Before you think I'm some awful person who ease-drops on other's conversations, let me say that the coffee shop is actually inside a Hallmark store and there only 4 tables that are placed very close together.) So, they were chatting and sharing memories from days past and having a great time with each other. Their friendship - that has easily spanned 20 or 30 years - has not changed in dramatic ways. While their stories of things that happened when they were 20 or so were more vivid, their conversations of more current events were just as endearing and meaningful.
It made me think of my friendships. Three in particular. These ladies are exceedingly dear to me, and while I have shared hilarious moments with each one that to this day might bring us to tears when we mention them, our friendship is not limited to that. These are women that I see myself sitting with in a coffee shop 20 years from now. Talking about memories, life experiences, current problems, even the dullest of things like needing to go shopping at Wal-Mart for milk. Those are the truest of friendships. The ones that are for a lifetime. I feel so blessed to have three of these friendships (who by the way are actually friends with each other as well), and I strive to never take them for granted. JuJu Bug, LaLa, and The Sister - I love you dearly.
It was obvious from their conversation that they have known each other for many years. (Before you think I'm some awful person who ease-drops on other's conversations, let me say that the coffee shop is actually inside a Hallmark store and there only 4 tables that are placed very close together.) So, they were chatting and sharing memories from days past and having a great time with each other. Their friendship - that has easily spanned 20 or 30 years - has not changed in dramatic ways. While their stories of things that happened when they were 20 or so were more vivid, their conversations of more current events were just as endearing and meaningful.
It made me think of my friendships. Three in particular. These ladies are exceedingly dear to me, and while I have shared hilarious moments with each one that to this day might bring us to tears when we mention them, our friendship is not limited to that. These are women that I see myself sitting with in a coffee shop 20 years from now. Talking about memories, life experiences, current problems, even the dullest of things like needing to go shopping at Wal-Mart for milk. Those are the truest of friendships. The ones that are for a lifetime. I feel so blessed to have three of these friendships (who by the way are actually friends with each other as well), and I strive to never take them for granted. JuJu Bug, LaLa, and The Sister - I love you dearly.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Rainy Day Memories
I love rainy days. Not enough to move somewhere like Seattle, but I do love them. Rainy days are fun for me. They mark days of relaxation and a good kind of nothing-ness. The kind of day where you bake yummy foods or lay around all day watching movies under your blanket.
About 8 or 9 years ago - back with The Husband and I were still in the un-married dating world - we had a great rainy day. It was in February and it was a "yucky" day outside so we set up camp in my apartment's living room. I pulled out the futon, we both put on comfy clothes, popped a big bowl of popcorn, and literally did nothing but snuggle up while we watched whatever movie was on TV at the time. We talked, made fun of the movies, laughed about stupid things, but were perfectly comfortable being lazy all day long. I think I even have a picture of us somewhere, but it is in the "old pictures box" and therefore, has not been scanned at this point in time.
For some reason, the only movie I remember from that day (remember, we did nothing but watch movies...all day long) is Fargo. It is not an amazing movie, nothing particularly funny happened while we watched it, it just for some reason stands out in my memory. To this day, any time I see Fargo it takes me back to that rainy, do-nothing day and I smile.
Just goes to show that the simplest things in life can sometimes be the best memories.
About 8 or 9 years ago - back with The Husband and I were still in the un-married dating world - we had a great rainy day. It was in February and it was a "yucky" day outside so we set up camp in my apartment's living room. I pulled out the futon, we both put on comfy clothes, popped a big bowl of popcorn, and literally did nothing but snuggle up while we watched whatever movie was on TV at the time. We talked, made fun of the movies, laughed about stupid things, but were perfectly comfortable being lazy all day long. I think I even have a picture of us somewhere, but it is in the "old pictures box" and therefore, has not been scanned at this point in time.
For some reason, the only movie I remember from that day (remember, we did nothing but watch movies...all day long) is Fargo. It is not an amazing movie, nothing particularly funny happened while we watched it, it just for some reason stands out in my memory. To this day, any time I see Fargo it takes me back to that rainy, do-nothing day and I smile.
Just goes to show that the simplest things in life can sometimes be the best memories.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
State of Dress
Okay, this is really cool. Artist Robin Barcus Slonina is working on an art series called State of Dress. In this series, she is creating a dress to represent each state in America. I encourage you to check out her blog to view the different dresses. You need to go through the archives to find pictures of the dresses, since her blog has posts other than just dress-related. Below is a YouTube video of her Wyoming dress. Pretty cool.
I am curious to know what first inspired this series. I think it is really, really cool and I love the variety in the materials she uses. The photos of the dresses are great as well.
This is a very short post, but I hope you take the time to check out her blog to see this quite remarkable art series.
I am curious to know what first inspired this series. I think it is really, really cool and I love the variety in the materials she uses. The photos of the dresses are great as well.
This is a very short post, but I hope you take the time to check out her blog to see this quite remarkable art series.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Help! I'm over 55 and learning computers!
I am currently teaching a continuing education class - Computers for 55 and Up. Everything that just ran through your mind is probably happening in the class, but I am actually really enjoying it.
So, we are in the middle of week two of the three week course, and I actually feel like we have made some good progress. They have learned over 38 terms and the actions that go along with them. That's a lot for a group of people that are really very much beginners to the computer world.
For those of you with parents, grandparents, or friends in the "55 and up, New to Computers" category, let me give you a few tips that I have picked up about how to help them when they ask for assistance.
1. Be patient! This is a learning process. It will take time.
2. Listen to the context of the question. More than likely they will use the wrong terminology when asking how to do something. You need to help them decifer what they are really asking.
3. Don't give them too much information at one time. Kind of like answering the question "where do babies come from" to a 5 year old. Most of the time they only want/need a little information - not the full birds & bees talk. As you explain something, check with them to make sure you are addressing what they need and that they are following it all.
4. Let them do the actions themselves. It is so much easier (and quicker) to scroll and click on things yourself, but if you really want them to learn how to access the Internet, you need to let them do it. Stand or sit next to them and walk them through it, but if you do it for them, they typically won't remember how to do it on their own later. It is part of the learning/remembering process.
5. When explaining things, it is good to give them the proper terms, but then explain it in regular language. For example, take the Recycling Bin. Once I told them it was a trash can and that you could put things in and take things out just like a trash can in your house, they got it. You are not "dumbing it down." You are making it understandable.
Most of us know someone who is learning computers and it is easy for us to feel frustrated when they don't "get it" right away. Remember, it is just as frustrating (if not more so) for those who are in the learning process.
So, we are in the middle of week two of the three week course, and I actually feel like we have made some good progress. They have learned over 38 terms and the actions that go along with them. That's a lot for a group of people that are really very much beginners to the computer world.
For those of you with parents, grandparents, or friends in the "55 and up, New to Computers" category, let me give you a few tips that I have picked up about how to help them when they ask for assistance.
1. Be patient! This is a learning process. It will take time.
2. Listen to the context of the question. More than likely they will use the wrong terminology when asking how to do something. You need to help them decifer what they are really asking.
3. Don't give them too much information at one time. Kind of like answering the question "where do babies come from" to a 5 year old. Most of the time they only want/need a little information - not the full birds & bees talk. As you explain something, check with them to make sure you are addressing what they need and that they are following it all.
4. Let them do the actions themselves. It is so much easier (and quicker) to scroll and click on things yourself, but if you really want them to learn how to access the Internet, you need to let them do it. Stand or sit next to them and walk them through it, but if you do it for them, they typically won't remember how to do it on their own later. It is part of the learning/remembering process.
5. When explaining things, it is good to give them the proper terms, but then explain it in regular language. For example, take the Recycling Bin. Once I told them it was a trash can and that you could put things in and take things out just like a trash can in your house, they got it. You are not "dumbing it down." You are making it understandable.
Most of us know someone who is learning computers and it is easy for us to feel frustrated when they don't "get it" right away. Remember, it is just as frustrating (if not more so) for those who are in the learning process.
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