Months ago, I got a new car. Brand new off the lot with less than 30 miles on it. Amazing as this is to me, I really love it. This new car is the blessing I knew it would be, and has been even better than I thought.
The question was this: In a car, is it really better to get 100% Whole Gas, or is the Ethanol Mix Gas better? We decided to test this. What better way than to test a NEW car? I should know this, so I can use the better option.
I decided that one tank of each would not be fair. They could mix and affect the results of each other. One tank of 100% Gas could be used to go to see the in-laws, the next tank of Ethanol Mix could be used only to drive to DH's work, and that would falsely change the results, as well. According to DH, the idea was to get the tank as low as possible (safely, of course) and then fill the tank with 100% Gas. Has something to do with the fumes that Ethanol causes in the tank. We emptied the car (driving for no reason to distant parts of our fair city), and filled with 100% Gas, and did so for at least 4 tank fills.
I kept careful notes. I figured the mileage for each tank, and figured the cost difference and the distance from my home to get to the 100% Gas. I also averaged all four tanks. I calculated Value.
Then, I switched. We were gone on a trip, and could not find 100% Gas. We might have used it, but we can't know. In Oklahoma, it is law to post on each pump a sticker that says if there is any Ethanol in the mix. Texas has no such laws. I wonder if that is law anywhere else? We then purposely used the 10% Ethanol mix for four tanks.
Again, I kept careful notes. I kept a record of the cost that would have been for a tank of 100% Gas every time I filled the tank with 10% Ethanol mix. I again averaged, and calculated Value.
Today, you get to hear the results.
I found that, in our New Honda Fit, it was actually better to use the....
10% Ethanol Mix Gas.
Yep. The cheap stuff is better. In my calculations. For my new car.
This may surprise many of you. It certainly surprised me. I thought that it would be the other way around. And it wasn't just the mileage. It was the cost, the distance to get the 100% stuff, and it was the fact that newer engines are built to handle the mixture better these days. I even found that one of the 100% stores did not have pay at the pump capabilities... so it was not convenient. How can that be more efficient?
I would say that an older car was built before the Ethanol was actively being added in would run more efficiently on 100% gas. This is my opinion, based on my own observation and testing of my own vehicles, not a fact studied by a group of influential people. Just saying.
So, there you have it. If you have an older car, I would say test it for yourself. Make sure to take into account the distance, cost, efficiency and even your own driving habits. Pay attention to your inflation of tires (it won't cure "global warming", but it will effect your individual mileage) and notice the time you spend sitting in traffic. It all works together.
Have a great week, and I will see you later!
Showing posts with label games. Show all posts
Showing posts with label games. Show all posts
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
For Jan And Her Dare
Jan, I take that Dare, and I will go farther than just one more of the quizzes! I picked a few that made sense to me, and didn't give me unfavorable results.
I wear shoes that are like Crocs, but a different brand, with flowers cut in the pattern of holes. Navy, with little ladybug buttons added. Comfortable, stylish, and easy. Light, and perfect for traveling. Airports love me.
I only have one shade of purple in the basket of nail colors. Light and iridescent. But I also have a pair of clogs that are purple, and I do love wearing lavender. I don't like the smell of the plant, but the color is soothing.
I had to see what my Element was. Unfortunately, it wasn't a Honda. But, the Earth stuff aligns well with my Taurean sign. I am not surprised. I have been called Grounded a lot, and I don't mean as punishment from my parents. Steady, loyal and stubborn. I would guess that about sums me up.
OK, I have taken a few more of the quick quizzes. Now, to waste more time, and this time money, on entertainment today. We are going to the new Warren Theatre in Moore, to see Kung Fu Panda. I have been in one of the Warren Theatres in Wichita, and they are nice. This one has dinner in the balcony, and a bar! I have to laugh, though. If popcorn and water costs so much, what will the alcohol cost? I am scared to even ask. I won't be able to take pictures to show you, but I will make some mental notes and bring back some thoughts later.
I have to go find something comfortable to wear to the theatre.
You Are Clogs |
 You are a solid and down to earth person. You seek, and almost always achieve, a really sound balance in your life. You are stylish yet comfortable. Mellow but driven. Excited yet calm. You are the perfect mesh of contradictions. No matter what happens, you have the ability to stay well grounded in your life. People know that they can truly depend on you. You should live: In Europe You should work: At a company dedicated to helping the world |
I wear shoes that are like Crocs, but a different brand, with flowers cut in the pattern of holes. Navy, with little ladybug buttons added. Comfortable, stylish, and easy. Light, and perfect for traveling. Airports love me.
Your Nail Polish Color is Purple |
 How you're unique: You are artistic and expressive Why your style rocks: You pay special attention to color and fabrics What this color says about you: "I'm creative and know how to take care of myself" |
I only have one shade of purple in the basket of nail colors. Light and iridescent. But I also have a pair of clogs that are purple, and I do love wearing lavender. I don't like the smell of the plant, but the color is soothing.
Your Element Is Earth |
 You excel at planning and strategizing. You could be a champ at chess or Survivor. Well grounded, you are able to be realistic and rationalize. On the inside, you have a hard core. It's tough to phase you. You are super productive, and you are able to think anything through. Focused and super charged, your instincts are a good guide for your next step. |
I had to see what my Element was. Unfortunately, it wasn't a Honda. But, the Earth stuff aligns well with my Taurean sign. I am not surprised. I have been called Grounded a lot, and I don't mean as punishment from my parents. Steady, loyal and stubborn. I would guess that about sums me up.
OK, I have taken a few more of the quick quizzes. Now, to waste more time, and this time money, on entertainment today. We are going to the new Warren Theatre in Moore, to see Kung Fu Panda. I have been in one of the Warren Theatres in Wichita, and they are nice. This one has dinner in the balcony, and a bar! I have to laugh, though. If popcorn and water costs so much, what will the alcohol cost? I am scared to even ask. I won't be able to take pictures to show you, but I will make some mental notes and bring back some thoughts later.
I have to go find something comfortable to wear to the theatre.
I Let The Peer Pressure Get To Me
Alright. I had to. I took the "What Cake are YOU?" quiz. And I got a disappointing answer.
I can't have ice cream often, no matter how much I love it. This thing calls me High Maintenance, and Easy to overdose on. How... odd.
Here you go, Jan. I may try again, just to see what other cakes are available. I prefer Cheesecake, in a variety box from a Factory.
I can't have ice cream often, no matter how much I love it. This thing calls me High Maintenance, and Easy to overdose on. How... odd.
Here you go, Jan. I may try again, just to see what other cakes are available. I prefer Cheesecake, in a variety box from a Factory.
You Are an Ice Cream Cake |
 Surprising, unique, and high maintenance. You're one of a kind, and you don't want anyone to forget it. You're fun in small doses, but it's easy for people to overdose on you! |
Friday, May 16, 2008
May I Have Your Attention?
Word of the Post
Today's word is: caprine
/cap"rine/ adjective
Being, pertaining to, or speaking of a goat. Related information: the Zodiac sign of Capricorn is named so for the stellar constellation that is said to resemble a horned goat. DH was born a Capricorn.
The little field stickers coated my socks, their caprine horns reaching through the cotton to pierce my skin.
~~~~~~~~~~
I have to put this edit in a new post. How crazy is that?
Ever since I put in that last thing... the Google Map made the last post go hokey, so I can't edit in there. I am so happy I was finished. Glad I didn't call anyone an ugly name!
MammaMia (if you didn't see the comments) clarified that her hubby, in fact, did NOT attend school at Oklahoma Christian. His friend did. I am sorry. Guess I just lumped it all together in my memory. It was a month ago, so I am losing the detail I so crave. But all the boys knew mutual people from O.C. So at least I had some of the detail right.
Graduation Season is upon us. (Does this mean we can shoot them?!?!) I know at least five High School Seniors, and I had hoped to give them all some denomination of money. Life is terribly expensive, no? Wedding Season also quickly approacheth. I am attending a Shower for one bride-to-be from church this Saturday. If I give a small gift or a card without money in it, I feel cheap. If I give more, well.... you multiply any given amount by 6 for this weekend alone, and you get the small fortune I wish I had. Truth be told, the bride and my graduating cousin will get the most bucks, because Brides need stuff and Cousins who send announcements deserve more than the kid I barely know at church. Sounds harsh here, and I am not trying to be. Two of the local grads are going to Europe in the next few weeks. Oh, the jealousy is threatening to show it's ugly green head.
This weekend, I shall be playing the Final Round of the Scrabble Tournament. My final game will determine 3rd place. I am in the Losers Bracket. There were four siblings in this Tournament, and the oldest and the youngest are also playing this weekend, to determine who is 1st from the Winners Bracket. I play early on Saturday morning. Good thing it is happening at a coffee shop!
There are sugar ants in my kitchen. I have a rather large cleaning plan ahead of me. I think there are still critters in my ceiling, too. Things that make funny noises in the dead of night at our house. I have trouble sleeping when the little scratching noises commence. It was better to have a child running across my ceiling in the apartment above me. At least that stopped sometimes. The mom of that kid used to threaten to get me to come up and yell. That always made me laugh. I figured that they were quiet enough, especially late at night. The kid was a child, and needed to run off some of her energy sometimes. I didn't mind so much. I am a night owl, and she was in bed when I was sitting up doing my thing. I was at work when she was running. Or I was downstairs, listening, and laughing at the fear the mom was trying to use to teach her baby girl manners. I never did tell the mom that she was doing a good job.
I am so far behind on reading for the 888 Challenge, I may never catch up. But, I am valiantly making an effort anyway. I have finished reading two more books this week, and have two small study books that are almost finished as well. Then, on to the Blog Friend Writers. I have a stack of books from writers that I have met on the Blogs. The hard part will be deciding which to start with. I also plan to re-read the Christoper Paolini books (Eragon and Eldest), since his third (Brisinger, according to rumor) is coming out this September. I think I shall probably re-read the Harry Potter books, too. They are entertaining, and I can read them pretty quickly. I am trying very hard to not use all children's books that can be read in five minutes. I could have a section for that, but it can't be the entire list.
For the 888 Challenge, I have my categories started:
1. Here There Be Dragons
2. Blog Girls Writing
3. Autographed Collection
4. Political Opinion and Satire
5. Books of THE BOOK (Bible books as well as study guides)
6. I Missed That (High School Reading I never got to)
7. Ooo, Hoo, Witchy Woman (Occult fantasy/sci-fi)
8. Miskolc, Mish-mash, Miscellaneous (Catch-all Category for Leftovers.)
So, does it sound as if I will be reading interesting things this year? I probably should put the Bible category first, but that isn't the order it popped into my head just now. I have a written guide list, and this may change as the year's reading progresses. Since I need to be held accountable for actually reading some, I thought I would put this out there, for you all to help me with. Hopefully, I can have a completed list in November or December. I actually hoped for a full list, not the shortened list with the 8 overlaps I am allowed. If I am going to do this, I should do it right. Keep me honest!
I hope you all have a wonderful Friday. I will work on the Vacation Chronicles this weekend, and hopefully add a new segment before Tuesday.
Today's word is: caprine
/cap"rine/ adjective
Being, pertaining to, or speaking of a goat. Related information: the Zodiac sign of Capricorn is named so for the stellar constellation that is said to resemble a horned goat. DH was born a Capricorn.
The little field stickers coated my socks, their caprine horns reaching through the cotton to pierce my skin.
~~~~~~~~~~
I have to put this edit in a new post. How crazy is that?
Ever since I put in that last thing... the Google Map made the last post go hokey, so I can't edit in there. I am so happy I was finished. Glad I didn't call anyone an ugly name!
MammaMia (if you didn't see the comments) clarified that her hubby, in fact, did NOT attend school at Oklahoma Christian. His friend did. I am sorry. Guess I just lumped it all together in my memory. It was a month ago, so I am losing the detail I so crave. But all the boys knew mutual people from O.C. So at least I had some of the detail right.
Graduation Season is upon us. (Does this mean we can shoot them?!?!) I know at least five High School Seniors, and I had hoped to give them all some denomination of money. Life is terribly expensive, no? Wedding Season also quickly approacheth. I am attending a Shower for one bride-to-be from church this Saturday. If I give a small gift or a card without money in it, I feel cheap. If I give more, well.... you multiply any given amount by 6 for this weekend alone, and you get the small fortune I wish I had. Truth be told, the bride and my graduating cousin will get the most bucks, because Brides need stuff and Cousins who send announcements deserve more than the kid I barely know at church. Sounds harsh here, and I am not trying to be. Two of the local grads are going to Europe in the next few weeks. Oh, the jealousy is threatening to show it's ugly green head.
This weekend, I shall be playing the Final Round of the Scrabble Tournament. My final game will determine 3rd place. I am in the Losers Bracket. There were four siblings in this Tournament, and the oldest and the youngest are also playing this weekend, to determine who is 1st from the Winners Bracket. I play early on Saturday morning. Good thing it is happening at a coffee shop!
There are sugar ants in my kitchen. I have a rather large cleaning plan ahead of me. I think there are still critters in my ceiling, too. Things that make funny noises in the dead of night at our house. I have trouble sleeping when the little scratching noises commence. It was better to have a child running across my ceiling in the apartment above me. At least that stopped sometimes. The mom of that kid used to threaten to get me to come up and yell. That always made me laugh. I figured that they were quiet enough, especially late at night. The kid was a child, and needed to run off some of her energy sometimes. I didn't mind so much. I am a night owl, and she was in bed when I was sitting up doing my thing. I was at work when she was running. Or I was downstairs, listening, and laughing at the fear the mom was trying to use to teach her baby girl manners. I never did tell the mom that she was doing a good job.
I am so far behind on reading for the 888 Challenge, I may never catch up. But, I am valiantly making an effort anyway. I have finished reading two more books this week, and have two small study books that are almost finished as well. Then, on to the Blog Friend Writers. I have a stack of books from writers that I have met on the Blogs. The hard part will be deciding which to start with. I also plan to re-read the Christoper Paolini books (Eragon and Eldest), since his third (Brisinger, according to rumor) is coming out this September. I think I shall probably re-read the Harry Potter books, too. They are entertaining, and I can read them pretty quickly. I am trying very hard to not use all children's books that can be read in five minutes. I could have a section for that, but it can't be the entire list.
For the 888 Challenge, I have my categories started:
1. Here There Be Dragons
2. Blog Girls Writing
3. Autographed Collection
4. Political Opinion and Satire
5. Books of THE BOOK (Bible books as well as study guides)
6. I Missed That (High School Reading I never got to)
7. Ooo, Hoo, Witchy Woman (Occult fantasy/sci-fi)
8. Miskolc, Mish-mash, Miscellaneous (Catch-all Category for Leftovers.)
So, does it sound as if I will be reading interesting things this year? I probably should put the Bible category first, but that isn't the order it popped into my head just now. I have a written guide list, and this may change as the year's reading progresses. Since I need to be held accountable for actually reading some, I thought I would put this out there, for you all to help me with. Hopefully, I can have a completed list in November or December. I actually hoped for a full list, not the shortened list with the 8 overlaps I am allowed. If I am going to do this, I should do it right. Keep me honest!
I hope you all have a wonderful Friday. I will work on the Vacation Chronicles this weekend, and hopefully add a new segment before Tuesday.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Wordy Wednesday
I have not enough brain power to put a word up today. Enough about me being hard on myself. I am taking a day off. Today is the first of many "Be Nice To Chelf Today" days, and I am celebrating. I am hoping to get lots of rest. Soon, I shall be taking a little trip north, to visit a friend, and make two new friends. I am going to meet the lovely Midwest Girl in person. I can't wait! I will bring back pictures (if I remember to take them!) and blog a little about our adventures. If I am allowed to, and not sworn to the silence of Girls' Night.
I hope everyone had a nice Valentine's day. I don't really care to celebrate a day named for a guy I never even met, and that Hallmark seems to have immortalized. Our Blog Buddy Meet was planned last week, before I was reminded that THAT Thursday was a special day, and our hubbies might object to a Girls' Night Out on the National Holiday. So, we quickly changed to this week. Which makes me a busy woman.
Thursday, I go north. Friday I come back south. Saturday, DH and I go north again, but not so far. We are going to our church's Couples Retreat. We go to a campground north of here, and spend a night or two (varies by year) studying God's Word about marriage and related family issues, and playing board games and sitting up all night talking to other couples about all sorts of subjects. It is funny to me, that this campground has rooms, like a college dorm. With Bunk Beds. Two Twin sized bunk beds. Yep, we get to sleep separately for our retreat. Now before anyone suggests ways to co-sleep, let me inform you that DH is 6' 6" tall, and I am 5'4" and... fluffy. We can't fit on a twin together for real for all night. We tried to put the mattresses on the floor side by side, and it didn't fit. The rooms are TINY. There are a lot of ways to grow as a couple. Sleeping separately is not my best idea of a way to grow. However, the weekend usually is filled with other ways to be intimate. Sunday, we come home again.
DH and I have been going to the local dollar theater on their $0.50 night. We have seen The Golden Compass and August Rush this week. OK, August Rush was on Friday night, not Tuesday. Either way, we have seen cheap movies. Then we go to Vintage and play Scrabble. I don't know why I like that, but I do. I suppose part of it comes from the fact that we don't have a kitchen table set up right now. We play board games across a folding wooden tray. It is fun to play Scrabble in a quiet little coffee shop.
Friday night there were some guys there, who were going to compete in a talent contest the next day. They had written a song, and were practicing it. Two guitars, three guys, and a lot of laughs. They were creative. One of the guitar players works at the shop, so I hope to ask him soon if they won anything, even an honorable mention for their guts and creativity.
Yes, you saw that right, I went to see the Golden Compass for myself. I spent the least amount of money possible, so as to not support the author too much if I didn't like it. I liked the movie. I personally thought that it was an interesting combination of good CG effects and bad acting. I like the girl that played Lyra. She seems to have a gift. Having not read the books myself, and having read lots of reviews, critics and friendly discussions, I have come to a borderline conclusion. I liked it, for the fantasy fiction it is. I did not like it, because it seemed somewhat lacking in plot and depth. It felt rushed. It felt as if it were a cheap imitation of good fiction.
Now, I don't know how the books would feel. I don't care to find out. I saw a fun quote recently. "Never judge a book by it's movie." AMEN and amen. (Book snobbery showing through) So... I have judged the movie without the book. If the point was to get me to read the book that would try to snag my innocent daemon out of my body, and make it walk around like a puppy learning to heel, then it failed miserably. If the point was to pique my curiosity about this daemon idea, and to lure me into believing the morality of the compass, it still failed. I hate to say it, people, because I shouldn't have to. Kids (those old enough to really read these books) and adults alike should know the difference between fact and fiction. This is fiction, and kids know it better than some adults. Same with Harry Potter, same with Star Trek, same with Star Wars. Fiction, all of it.
Fiction can draw you a verbal picture, and can show you a little different way of thinking than you once had. It can seep into your open heart to the possibility that there is something bigger than yourself out there. But Fiction cannot tear you from God's Love, cannot change what you know to be true, cannot excuse weakness of faith. This movie is not for small children, it is not for anyone questioning their faith to use as a guide, and it should not be marketed through Scholastic. This watered-down depiction is simply designed to tease you, to make you think that the God-killing ideas this man writes are soft, and cuddly.
I can hear the hiss of the serpent in his ideas. You don't have a real moral compass, and you don't need one. You know what is right better than anyone else. When lying gets you a good result, it is OK. Age is a terrible thing, don't trust adults because they lie to you, they only want to hurt you. Children always know better than adults. Go with your gut, not instructions. Folly. The man was clever, and the movie studio more so. Parents should definitely be on their guard. If nothing else, for the gory way the Ice Bears fight. I would never have thought to kill a bear would require punching his jaw off, literally. That was gruesome.
So, I wasted fifty cents and a couple of hours of my life that I can never regain. Eh. I have wasted far more money and far more time on far less eventful distractions. Now I know not to bother reading, until my own future children want to. Then I shall do as Niki suggested, and read WITH my children, and discuss the topics as they emerge.
August Rush was not so great as I had hoped, either. It is a good movie, but not so great. I liked it. I may actually buy it when it comes out. If it fits into my budget, which it will likely not. It had good music, it had Robin Williams (so it couldn't have been that bad), and it had a family healing in the end. It seemed a little fairy tale when August gets to go to Juilliard. That kind of education isn't cheap, and he was a street kid. But, it was a speech to adoption, coincidence, hope and music. "You just have to listen." I cried. I am doing that a lot more in recent years... crying over movies that shouldn't impact me so much. I can't relate to being a 12 yr old wandering the streets of NYC. But knowing that the music brought them all together, as August hoped it would, touched me.
I know that tunes and smells are the two most powerful triggers of memory. A song on the radio can take you back a week or a decade. A smell can bring your childhood to your moment. Go explore your world for the scents and songs that take you back, and enjoy the mini vacation!
I hope everyone had a nice Valentine's day. I don't really care to celebrate a day named for a guy I never even met, and that Hallmark seems to have immortalized. Our Blog Buddy Meet was planned last week, before I was reminded that THAT Thursday was a special day, and our hubbies might object to a Girls' Night Out on the National Holiday. So, we quickly changed to this week. Which makes me a busy woman.
Thursday, I go north. Friday I come back south. Saturday, DH and I go north again, but not so far. We are going to our church's Couples Retreat. We go to a campground north of here, and spend a night or two (varies by year) studying God's Word about marriage and related family issues, and playing board games and sitting up all night talking to other couples about all sorts of subjects. It is funny to me, that this campground has rooms, like a college dorm. With Bunk Beds. Two Twin sized bunk beds. Yep, we get to sleep separately for our retreat. Now before anyone suggests ways to co-sleep, let me inform you that DH is 6' 6" tall, and I am 5'4" and... fluffy. We can't fit on a twin together for real for all night. We tried to put the mattresses on the floor side by side, and it didn't fit. The rooms are TINY. There are a lot of ways to grow as a couple. Sleeping separately is not my best idea of a way to grow. However, the weekend usually is filled with other ways to be intimate. Sunday, we come home again.
DH and I have been going to the local dollar theater on their $0.50 night. We have seen The Golden Compass and August Rush this week. OK, August Rush was on Friday night, not Tuesday. Either way, we have seen cheap movies. Then we go to Vintage and play Scrabble. I don't know why I like that, but I do. I suppose part of it comes from the fact that we don't have a kitchen table set up right now. We play board games across a folding wooden tray. It is fun to play Scrabble in a quiet little coffee shop.
Friday night there were some guys there, who were going to compete in a talent contest the next day. They had written a song, and were practicing it. Two guitars, three guys, and a lot of laughs. They were creative. One of the guitar players works at the shop, so I hope to ask him soon if they won anything, even an honorable mention for their guts and creativity.
Yes, you saw that right, I went to see the Golden Compass for myself. I spent the least amount of money possible, so as to not support the author too much if I didn't like it. I liked the movie. I personally thought that it was an interesting combination of good CG effects and bad acting. I like the girl that played Lyra. She seems to have a gift. Having not read the books myself, and having read lots of reviews, critics and friendly discussions, I have come to a borderline conclusion. I liked it, for the fantasy fiction it is. I did not like it, because it seemed somewhat lacking in plot and depth. It felt rushed. It felt as if it were a cheap imitation of good fiction.
Now, I don't know how the books would feel. I don't care to find out. I saw a fun quote recently. "Never judge a book by it's movie." AMEN and amen. (Book snobbery showing through) So... I have judged the movie without the book. If the point was to get me to read the book that would try to snag my innocent daemon out of my body, and make it walk around like a puppy learning to heel, then it failed miserably. If the point was to pique my curiosity about this daemon idea, and to lure me into believing the morality of the compass, it still failed. I hate to say it, people, because I shouldn't have to. Kids (those old enough to really read these books) and adults alike should know the difference between fact and fiction. This is fiction, and kids know it better than some adults. Same with Harry Potter, same with Star Trek, same with Star Wars. Fiction, all of it.
Fiction can draw you a verbal picture, and can show you a little different way of thinking than you once had. It can seep into your open heart to the possibility that there is something bigger than yourself out there. But Fiction cannot tear you from God's Love, cannot change what you know to be true, cannot excuse weakness of faith. This movie is not for small children, it is not for anyone questioning their faith to use as a guide, and it should not be marketed through Scholastic. This watered-down depiction is simply designed to tease you, to make you think that the God-killing ideas this man writes are soft, and cuddly.
I can hear the hiss of the serpent in his ideas. You don't have a real moral compass, and you don't need one. You know what is right better than anyone else. When lying gets you a good result, it is OK. Age is a terrible thing, don't trust adults because they lie to you, they only want to hurt you. Children always know better than adults. Go with your gut, not instructions. Folly. The man was clever, and the movie studio more so. Parents should definitely be on their guard. If nothing else, for the gory way the Ice Bears fight. I would never have thought to kill a bear would require punching his jaw off, literally. That was gruesome.
So, I wasted fifty cents and a couple of hours of my life that I can never regain. Eh. I have wasted far more money and far more time on far less eventful distractions. Now I know not to bother reading, until my own future children want to. Then I shall do as Niki suggested, and read WITH my children, and discuss the topics as they emerge.
August Rush was not so great as I had hoped, either. It is a good movie, but not so great. I liked it. I may actually buy it when it comes out. If it fits into my budget, which it will likely not. It had good music, it had Robin Williams (so it couldn't have been that bad), and it had a family healing in the end. It seemed a little fairy tale when August gets to go to Juilliard. That kind of education isn't cheap, and he was a street kid. But, it was a speech to adoption, coincidence, hope and music. "You just have to listen." I cried. I am doing that a lot more in recent years... crying over movies that shouldn't impact me so much. I can't relate to being a 12 yr old wandering the streets of NYC. But knowing that the music brought them all together, as August hoped it would, touched me.
I know that tunes and smells are the two most powerful triggers of memory. A song on the radio can take you back a week or a decade. A smell can bring your childhood to your moment. Go explore your world for the scents and songs that take you back, and enjoy the mini vacation!
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
The Holiday Grouse
Every time someone asks how our holiday went, I have to hesitate. My first inclination is to get all sad, and say, "Oh, it was fine, I guess." The truth is, it was full of things to be thankful for. I am ashamed that I can find so much to complain about first.
Not to say that it went all roses. The car did break down. I did not get to see Mom, which was the whole point of trying to go home. We did get stuck on the side of the road in a car that was supposed to be fixed. However, God still shows us compassion.
I wanted to buy a blanket to send to Niki. I was able to buy five. Spending two hours in our dead car on the side of the road made us cold enough to appreciate the needs of the homeless in Colorado in winter. I have friends who are every bit as good as family. We didn't have to walk to Clines Corners four miles away, and we didn't have to hitchhike into Albuquerque.
We got picked up by our friends. Conveniently, they were able to come an hour outside of town to get us, without much delay. They took us into town and shared their lunch leftovers with us for one of the best Thanksgiving dinners I have ever had. We were able to stay the weekend at another house, in "Mom's room" (Mom and Dad have their own room at this friend's house. She is their hotel in ABQ).
Dad made two trips down to ABQ to see us. One trip to bring us a vehicle to take us home, just in case he could not come again to get our car. I got to see Dad and my Bro on that trip, on Friday. We had a late lunch, and sent them on their way. The second trip, Dad came alone with a truck and trailer to tow my car to his mechanic. DH and I helped get the car onto the trailer. My car made the trip home on Saturday, without me.
I got to play Scrabble with our friend. I don't get to play very much with our friends here. There is only one who loves to play as much as I, and he beats me all the time. Our friend in ABQ is a librarian, and has an extensive vocabulary, so it was a GAME. I won one of them (EQUIP ending on a triple word square for 78 points doubled my score and, I think, sealed that one.), and she won the second and the third. Speaking of Scrabble, DH just handed me a page off his Classic Dave Barry page-a-day calendar. This is the page from Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 22.
On Sunday, we had a safe drive home in Dad's 1985 Dodge Caravan (it has 212,800+ miles on it!). I don't know what I want to do. The trick is to see if it is worth it to repair the car, or just junk it for scrap metal. If it truly needs a new engine, Dad will have to tow it to me, or at least to ABQ, to get to a shop that has the tools to do the heavy lifting of an engine swap. We should know more next week, after the mechanic has a chance to look at it. It could just need a new intake manifold (a mere $900 by all accounts). A new engine will cost less than replacing the car... but at what value? A replacement engine will be a rebuilt, and it was the flaw in the engine that started this circus. I am considering buying Dad's van. He said I could borrow it as long as necessary. He was just glad that, since they replaced it this summer with a newer van, they had not let the insurance lapse on it. The tag is good until May.
Mom has many friends and church members who come over to visit her. There are two in particular who stayed with her during Dad's trips to help me. I am grateful for their kindness.
All in all, the trip was good. It was nothing like we expected, and not at all what we wanted, but that is not to say it wasn't good at all. God showed us how He cares for us, and will not let us down or abandon us. I know people who had more stressful trips than we had, even though I don't want to be complaining or comparing. We saw God on this trip, and He safely brought us home to the job that DH loves, in plenty of time to go to work as scheduled on Monday.
Mom went into the hospital on Monday, and remained there all day Tuesday as well. I can't help but feel a bit of guilt. Mom can't handle stress in the same way she used to. When I was young, stress gave her cold sores. Now, stress gives her shortness of breath, anemia and tremors. She went to the hospital after stressing over me and my "adventure". I know better than to blame myself for her failing health, but I can't help it. Would she have gone to the hospital if I had not tried to come home? Probably. Can I do anything to make it better? Or worse? No. Absolutely not. When I talked to Dad on Monday night, he sounded so very tired. He does so much for her. I think it wears him down.
So please don't ask me how my Holiday was. Don't ask me how I am. Box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get.
Ask me what blessings I have received today. Ask me whom I have helped to see God today.
Ask me which new car I like (this minute).
Not to say that it went all roses. The car did break down. I did not get to see Mom, which was the whole point of trying to go home. We did get stuck on the side of the road in a car that was supposed to be fixed. However, God still shows us compassion.
I wanted to buy a blanket to send to Niki. I was able to buy five. Spending two hours in our dead car on the side of the road made us cold enough to appreciate the needs of the homeless in Colorado in winter. I have friends who are every bit as good as family. We didn't have to walk to Clines Corners four miles away, and we didn't have to hitchhike into Albuquerque.
We got picked up by our friends. Conveniently, they were able to come an hour outside of town to get us, without much delay. They took us into town and shared their lunch leftovers with us for one of the best Thanksgiving dinners I have ever had. We were able to stay the weekend at another house, in "Mom's room" (Mom and Dad have their own room at this friend's house. She is their hotel in ABQ).
Dad made two trips down to ABQ to see us. One trip to bring us a vehicle to take us home, just in case he could not come again to get our car. I got to see Dad and my Bro on that trip, on Friday. We had a late lunch, and sent them on their way. The second trip, Dad came alone with a truck and trailer to tow my car to his mechanic. DH and I helped get the car onto the trailer. My car made the trip home on Saturday, without me.
I got to play Scrabble with our friend. I don't get to play very much with our friends here. There is only one who loves to play as much as I, and he beats me all the time. Our friend in ABQ is a librarian, and has an extensive vocabulary, so it was a GAME. I won one of them (EQUIP ending on a triple word square for 78 points doubled my score and, I think, sealed that one.), and she won the second and the third. Speaking of Scrabble, DH just handed me a page off his Classic Dave Barry page-a-day calendar. This is the page from Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 22.
The one board game that I still play is Scrabble. I like it because unlike most other games, which basically are pointless time-consumers, in Scrabble you can do something mentally stimulating and worthwhile: make naughty words. There is nothing quite like the sense of intellectual accomplishment that comes from spelling out, say, "b-o-s-o-m", knowing that it will be sitting there on the board for hours, staring up at your opponents.I personally try to avoid the dirty words. I don't like using them, I don't want to stare at them for hours. Scrabble usually takes at least two hours. The last hour is usually spent trying to figure out where to play that I that you didn't use on the last word you played, while your opponent is trying to dispose of a Z, W and J with no vowels.
On Sunday, we had a safe drive home in Dad's 1985 Dodge Caravan (it has 212,800+ miles on it!). I don't know what I want to do. The trick is to see if it is worth it to repair the car, or just junk it for scrap metal. If it truly needs a new engine, Dad will have to tow it to me, or at least to ABQ, to get to a shop that has the tools to do the heavy lifting of an engine swap. We should know more next week, after the mechanic has a chance to look at it. It could just need a new intake manifold (a mere $900 by all accounts). A new engine will cost less than replacing the car... but at what value? A replacement engine will be a rebuilt, and it was the flaw in the engine that started this circus. I am considering buying Dad's van. He said I could borrow it as long as necessary. He was just glad that, since they replaced it this summer with a newer van, they had not let the insurance lapse on it. The tag is good until May.
Mom has many friends and church members who come over to visit her. There are two in particular who stayed with her during Dad's trips to help me. I am grateful for their kindness.
All in all, the trip was good. It was nothing like we expected, and not at all what we wanted, but that is not to say it wasn't good at all. God showed us how He cares for us, and will not let us down or abandon us. I know people who had more stressful trips than we had, even though I don't want to be complaining or comparing. We saw God on this trip, and He safely brought us home to the job that DH loves, in plenty of time to go to work as scheduled on Monday.
Mom went into the hospital on Monday, and remained there all day Tuesday as well. I can't help but feel a bit of guilt. Mom can't handle stress in the same way she used to. When I was young, stress gave her cold sores. Now, stress gives her shortness of breath, anemia and tremors. She went to the hospital after stressing over me and my "adventure". I know better than to blame myself for her failing health, but I can't help it. Would she have gone to the hospital if I had not tried to come home? Probably. Can I do anything to make it better? Or worse? No. Absolutely not. When I talked to Dad on Monday night, he sounded so very tired. He does so much for her. I think it wears him down.
So please don't ask me how my Holiday was. Don't ask me how I am. Box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get.
Ask me what blessings I have received today. Ask me whom I have helped to see God today.
Ask me which new car I like (this minute).
Friday, August 24, 2007
Wii Laugh
Word of the Post
Today's word is: evince
/e*vince"/ verb
To show in a clear manner; to succeed in proving beyond a reasonable doubt; manifest; bring to light.
I will attempt to show you that owners of the Nintendo Wii evince a great sense of humor.
~~~~~~~~~~
FUNNY FRIDAY
I was in our favorite coffee shop tonight, and one of the baristas showed me this video. I had to share. I warn the faint of humor that there are some that are a bit on the crude side, and one that is NOT what you think, but all are funny!
Today's word is: evince
/e*vince"/ verb
To show in a clear manner; to succeed in proving beyond a reasonable doubt; manifest; bring to light.
I will attempt to show you that owners of the Nintendo Wii evince a great sense of humor.
~~~~~~~~~~
FUNNY FRIDAY
I was in our favorite coffee shop tonight, and one of the baristas showed me this video. I had to share. I warn the faint of humor that there are some that are a bit on the crude side, and one that is NOT what you think, but all are funny!
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Can This Thing Make Vacuuming Fun for Mii?
Word of the Post
Today's word is: pestiferous
/pes*tif"er*us/ adjective
The base words mean to bear a plague; noxious; annoying.
The lack of Wii outlets in the Oklahoma City area was getting pestiferous.
~~~~~~~~~~
Wii have made it into the new millennium of gaming! We bought a Wii tonight. As if I don't have enough peripherals to draw my attention away from my housework, we have added another. We got home at 8:30 pm, and it is now 12:07am. We played that silly thing for almost 3 hours after we got it set up.
I can tell you that we did Golf (which I don't play in real life, because I make the boys mad), and I got some really good scores on the Target Practice in the Training area. I am good (mom was always better) at bowling in real life, but the Power Strikes section is my nemesis. My arm is so tired.
I know that Jared has gotten into the Wii Fitness... and that sounds like a really good idea right now. I need to bowl and golf and tennis with my left arm, to equalize the workout. I suppose that the boxing would be helpful in the learning of defense, and in the strengthening of my weak girly-girl arms. That, and chasing the Jelly Bean while she "races" everyone... and I should be fit to live in no time.
Which is another discussion. Back in my Junior College days, I took a class called, "Fit For Life". In this class I discovered that by the time I was "fit" to live, I would be dead. I seriously gave up. It took me moving to Oklahoma for another round of college to get back to thinking healthy. There, I thought that I could not be healthy, and anything I did backfired on me. I can blame that on my attitude, I know. Here, I walked to all my classes, I walked to church on Sundays, I walked circles around the campus with my friends, and I ate so much less. I did not snack, I did not overeat; I spent my lunch hours talking (not eating everything I saw) and playing Spades with my friends. I distracted myself into health.
I lost 20 pounds that first year at college away from home. I was so afraid that the "Freshman 5" I was told I would gain would turn into 15. I have never been healthier in all my life. I desire nothing more in this life than to surpass that old me, and be a more healthy and lighter me now. Swimming this summer, eating less, eating better, and now adding the Wii Workout.
My goals have become attainable again.
Yay for Mii!
Today's word is: pestiferous
/pes*tif"er*us/ adjective
The base words mean to bear a plague; noxious; annoying.
The lack of Wii outlets in the Oklahoma City area was getting pestiferous.
~~~~~~~~~~
Wii have made it into the new millennium of gaming! We bought a Wii tonight. As if I don't have enough peripherals to draw my attention away from my housework, we have added another. We got home at 8:30 pm, and it is now 12:07am. We played that silly thing for almost 3 hours after we got it set up.
I can tell you that we did Golf (which I don't play in real life, because I make the boys mad), and I got some really good scores on the Target Practice in the Training area. I am good (mom was always better) at bowling in real life, but the Power Strikes section is my nemesis. My arm is so tired.
I know that Jared has gotten into the Wii Fitness... and that sounds like a really good idea right now. I need to bowl and golf and tennis with my left arm, to equalize the workout. I suppose that the boxing would be helpful in the learning of defense, and in the strengthening of my weak girly-girl arms. That, and chasing the Jelly Bean while she "races" everyone... and I should be fit to live in no time.
Which is another discussion. Back in my Junior College days, I took a class called, "Fit For Life". In this class I discovered that by the time I was "fit" to live, I would be dead. I seriously gave up. It took me moving to Oklahoma for another round of college to get back to thinking healthy. There, I thought that I could not be healthy, and anything I did backfired on me. I can blame that on my attitude, I know. Here, I walked to all my classes, I walked to church on Sundays, I walked circles around the campus with my friends, and I ate so much less. I did not snack, I did not overeat; I spent my lunch hours talking (not eating everything I saw) and playing Spades with my friends. I distracted myself into health.
I lost 20 pounds that first year at college away from home. I was so afraid that the "Freshman 5" I was told I would gain would turn into 15. I have never been healthier in all my life. I desire nothing more in this life than to surpass that old me, and be a more healthy and lighter me now. Swimming this summer, eating less, eating better, and now adding the Wii Workout.
My goals have become attainable again.
Yay for Mii!
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