Sunday, June 10, 2007
You know you live in Maine when.....
You know you live in Maine when the gas station sells lobster for $7.99/ lbs. :-) I won't buy them at the gas station, but I found it funny.
Friday, June 8, 2007
The New Cold War
I have been studying Russian History and Culture since I was 13 years old. There are few things in my life that have been that much of a constant in my life....I think the only other one is swimming competitively.
When the Soviet Union collapsed I figured the old Cold War think tanks weren't going to need me and I realized I wasn't going to be able to find a job related to my passion. The people who were needed were people who studied the Middle East and had a passion for the culture and history there....which wasn't me. So I ended up being mothballed with all the other relics from the Cold War.
I have never stopped following what is going on in Russia. Putin has scared me for years and his relationship with Bush makes me worried. There has been funky dynamics between them for years that have made me worry both for the US and for what it means for Russia. Now with what is playing out during the G8 summit makes me feel like there will be a new Cold War. I have to say, what did people expect with former KGB as President of Russia. I love the Russian people, they are a very loving, caring people, but I strongly believe in what the majority of the Russian people believe....never trust KGB. When Putin was saying that Bush had to win a second term because it would give international terrorism a new impulse and extra power, it made me question who Bush was even more then I questioned before. If Putin was backing Bush there is a problem.
Now we are back in the situation that we all know and love from the Cold War....with an argument between Russia and the US about placement of U.S. missile defense system. Then with the meeting between Bush and Putin in Maine next month...who knows what will happen then. Pravda is saying worse case scenario is that the New Cold War will have a start date of July 7, 2007. I am concerned that Bush will fumble this and that worse case scenario will happen. Bush seems to like to believe that foreign policy can be done with personality and charm and that doesn't work well for former KGB. The fact that in 2001 Bush said that he looked Putin in the eye and found him to be "straight forward and trustworthy. I was able to get a sense of his soul - a man deeply committed to his country and the interest of his country." Putin is former KGB...far from being straight forward and trustworthy.
Well with this all on my mind and reading Pravda and the St. Petersburg Times very closely, I am thinking I need to brushing up on my Russian again and maybe I can be removed from the mothballs.
When the Soviet Union collapsed I figured the old Cold War think tanks weren't going to need me and I realized I wasn't going to be able to find a job related to my passion. The people who were needed were people who studied the Middle East and had a passion for the culture and history there....which wasn't me. So I ended up being mothballed with all the other relics from the Cold War.
I have never stopped following what is going on in Russia. Putin has scared me for years and his relationship with Bush makes me worried. There has been funky dynamics between them for years that have made me worry both for the US and for what it means for Russia. Now with what is playing out during the G8 summit makes me feel like there will be a new Cold War. I have to say, what did people expect with former KGB as President of Russia. I love the Russian people, they are a very loving, caring people, but I strongly believe in what the majority of the Russian people believe....never trust KGB. When Putin was saying that Bush had to win a second term because it would give international terrorism a new impulse and extra power, it made me question who Bush was even more then I questioned before. If Putin was backing Bush there is a problem.
Now we are back in the situation that we all know and love from the Cold War....with an argument between Russia and the US about placement of U.S. missile defense system. Then with the meeting between Bush and Putin in Maine next month...who knows what will happen then. Pravda is saying worse case scenario is that the New Cold War will have a start date of July 7, 2007. I am concerned that Bush will fumble this and that worse case scenario will happen. Bush seems to like to believe that foreign policy can be done with personality and charm and that doesn't work well for former KGB. The fact that in 2001 Bush said that he looked Putin in the eye and found him to be "straight forward and trustworthy. I was able to get a sense of his soul - a man deeply committed to his country and the interest of his country." Putin is former KGB...far from being straight forward and trustworthy.
Well with this all on my mind and reading Pravda and the St. Petersburg Times very closely, I am thinking I need to brushing up on my Russian again and maybe I can be removed from the mothballs.
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Reply to comments
Christina says I crack her up because I seem to know what I should do. I know what would be allowed and viewed as ok by the general public, but I am not known to do just was is viewed as ok....I tend to go over the top....which is great with some things and a pain in the butt for others. It has worked well for getting me through school when people didn't think I could make it. It helped when I was 250lbs and wanted to lose weight and get fit...I didn't just lose the weight I started doing Tris and swimming meets again. This Summer will be my 4th Tri and I am now one of the top backstrokers in the state of Maine for my age.
So the issue is when do I give myself a break and say that it is ok to not give 110% for something I care about. Cutting myself a break is something that I find very hard to do, but I did order the audiobooks, so I am giving myself a break on this. :-)
I went out cycling this morning and these lyrics came up when I was riding and it fits how I feel about how I work towards something whether it be with my education, reading, writing, or fitness.
This is ten percent luck, twenty percent skill
Fifteen percent concentrated power of will
Five percent pleasure, fifty percent pain
And a hundred percent reason to remember the name!
So the issue is when do I give myself a break and say that it is ok to not give 110% for something I care about. Cutting myself a break is something that I find very hard to do, but I did order the audiobooks, so I am giving myself a break on this. :-)
I went out cycling this morning and these lyrics came up when I was riding and it fits how I feel about how I work towards something whether it be with my education, reading, writing, or fitness.
This is ten percent luck, twenty percent skill
Fifteen percent concentrated power of will
Five percent pleasure, fifty percent pain
And a hundred percent reason to remember the name!
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Update on Audiobooks
Ok you guys helped me feel ok about me using audiobooks to finally "read" Lord of the Rings. I decided to go with it on CD rather then downloading because you can't get the best version digitally in the US...you can only get it digitally in the UK and iTunes and audible.uk.co makes it next to imposible to get something from them if you don't live in the UK and they don't allow gifting items to people in another country since I know many people in the UK I thought about that but reading the terms and condition found out that wasn't allowed and being a person who plays by the rules most of the time I couldn't see risking breaking that rule and losing my audiobook copy of Lord of the Rings. Turns out there is the same problem with the UK version of Harry Potter audiobooks. I had decided I wanted to get Horse Girl the UK version because I find the reader more pleasing to the ears then the US version and since I figure I will be hearing it also I wanted something I could handle. So I placed an order with amazon.uk.co to get audiobook copies of the first two Harry Potter books on CD. So I guess I will have a lot of CD ripping to do in the next few weeks. :-)
Monday, June 4, 2007
Zeus!
I saw this quiz on my friend's blog so I thought I would try it. I am only sort of suprised about the results.
| Which God or Goddess are you like? Your Result: God Zeus You are Zeus. You are fierce and stong, and you like to throw lightning bolts at people who deserve it. You are fearless when it comes to fear, and harmless to nothing. You have the guts to take on anything and never look back. Congratulations!! You are God!! | |
| Goddess Sekhemet | |
| Budha | |
| Jesus | |
| The Christian God | |
| Satan | |
| Goddess Bast | |
| You are your own God or Goddess | |
| Which God or Goddess are you like? Make Your Own Quiz | |
Audiobooks
I was just checking out the Harry Potter audiobooks because Horse Girl really wants to be able to "read" the books but with her learning difference it just won't be possible for a long time. So I was checking out both the American version and the UK version...trying to decide if I want her to experience them in American English or UK English that J. K. Rowling wrote them in. It is a hard choice, but I have awhile to think about it because I want to do one huge download and get all 7 books at once. Anyhow when I was browsing iTunes UK edition I found they have Lord of the Rings which the US iTunes didn't have the last I checked. I listened to a preview and I nearly cried.
To understand why I nearly cried I need to give you some back story. I have owned a copy of the Lord of the Rings trilogy since I was 13 years old....that is mumble decades ago. I have never been able to read it. I keep trying, but it is written in away that my learning disabled mind can't wrap my head around. I have tried to read it so many times I can't even count them. The guy I was in an abusive relationship with was (and I guess still is) a Tolkienisan. Fly Guy also has loved the works of J. R. R. Tolkien. So it is something that has been there around me for decades and after the movies came out I really felt I was missing something by having not read the books. Here I am a very smart woman, who loves reading Fantasy genre books and has been reading them y since I was able to read, but every time I have tried to read Lord of the Rings I totally and completely fail.
Hearing the audiobook preview of the books made it clear how easily I could understand the books if I "read" them that way. I really should do it, but there is the stubborn part of me that keeps telling me not to give up trying to read them the conventional way. This is the stubborn part of me that pushed me to graduate from both High School and College when people said that it would be impossible because of my learning disabilities.
So I have two sides waring right now. The side that really wants to finally "read" the Lord of the Rings and understand it in a way the movies don't allow and the stubborn side that refuses to give up. I don't know which side will win out yet.
The interesting point here is that I don't have a problem getting Horse Girl audiobooks because I feel that it helps her keep her comprehension skills up where they should be for a kid her age, but I have trouble getting them for myself. What kind of double standard is that? Also I just realized when talking about our learning issues, I just realized when I am talking about Horse Girls issues I call them Learning Differences and when I talk about mine they are Learning Disabilities....another major double standard. Maybe I should just cut myself a break.
One final note....Horse Girl loves the Lord of the Ring movies....so maybe I can her the audiobook versions for her and "preview" them to make sure they are ok before she listens to them. ;-) What ever work to get around my stubborn side. ;-)
To understand why I nearly cried I need to give you some back story. I have owned a copy of the Lord of the Rings trilogy since I was 13 years old....that is mumble decades ago. I have never been able to read it. I keep trying, but it is written in away that my learning disabled mind can't wrap my head around. I have tried to read it so many times I can't even count them. The guy I was in an abusive relationship with was (and I guess still is) a Tolkienisan. Fly Guy also has loved the works of J. R. R. Tolkien. So it is something that has been there around me for decades and after the movies came out I really felt I was missing something by having not read the books. Here I am a very smart woman, who loves reading Fantasy genre books and has been reading them y since I was able to read, but every time I have tried to read Lord of the Rings I totally and completely fail.
Hearing the audiobook preview of the books made it clear how easily I could understand the books if I "read" them that way. I really should do it, but there is the stubborn part of me that keeps telling me not to give up trying to read them the conventional way. This is the stubborn part of me that pushed me to graduate from both High School and College when people said that it would be impossible because of my learning disabilities.
So I have two sides waring right now. The side that really wants to finally "read" the Lord of the Rings and understand it in a way the movies don't allow and the stubborn side that refuses to give up. I don't know which side will win out yet.
The interesting point here is that I don't have a problem getting Horse Girl audiobooks because I feel that it helps her keep her comprehension skills up where they should be for a kid her age, but I have trouble getting them for myself. What kind of double standard is that? Also I just realized when talking about our learning issues, I just realized when I am talking about Horse Girls issues I call them Learning Differences and when I talk about mine they are Learning Disabilities....another major double standard. Maybe I should just cut myself a break.
One final note....Horse Girl loves the Lord of the Ring movies....so maybe I can her the audiobook versions for her and "preview" them to make sure they are ok before she listens to them. ;-) What ever work to get around my stubborn side. ;-)
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Quick update
Things are going really well here.....so well that I am worried that is just the calm before a major storm. History Girl hasn't had a major panic episode for nearly two weeks, which is what I needed. She was having at least one a day there and it was very very draining on me because I was the one who had to deal with it all the time since they happened most of the time while Fly Guy was at work or a Mason thing or whatever, just not around. History Girl's therapist gave her some great ideas how to deal with her panic episodes about two weeks ago and since there we have had no major issues. There was a small one yesterday where the 5th graders we presenting their reports on the states and History Girl handled a poisonous plant before the student announced that it was poisonous and she panicked, but she pulled herself together and even though I was in the school at the time nobody came to get me since it was such a minor episode and school councilor and the school social worker praised her for handing it well. So my fingers are crossed that we have turned a corner. I really do because the photos I took of History Girl before the 5th grade social last night they don't match up with this panic filled girl I deal with. The girl in the photo twirling in her dress because she like how it spreads out....that is the real History Girl....so I really really hope that we have turned a corner.
Horse Girl right now is at her riding lessons. Fly Guy took her this morning so I could have time to myself. (History Girl is camping with her Girl Scout troop.) Yesterday I was in the school for the whole day either working or volunteering. With just two weeks left in school I end up spending most of my days there. Any how Horse Girl's speech therapist and then her reading tutor came to talk to me. They are both amazed how well she is doing right now. Their only fear is that we are going into Summer vacation, Horse Girl is known for the large regression she has with speech and language even over just a long weekend like Memorial Day weekend. Horse Girl is getting Summer services which is great, but Fly Guy and I will have really work with her over the Summer too, so she just keeps going. Both her teachers talked about Horse Girl's great work ethic and how hard she is working lately. I told them I knew she was working hard at school because every day she comes home and just wrung out. She works so hard at school she is physically exhausted at the end of the day and the last few weeks she has been more tired then she has been the rest of the year.
Things are going well for Fly Guy....I don't think there is anything to report since they are going so smoothly.
With me I finally was able to shake that last depression and then I just have been busy with Girl Scouts....I just got my Leadership Development pin with 3 leafs (one leaf for every 10 hours of extra training I have done for Girl Scouts). I already know that I am going to get two more leafs before the end of September. Then there is always the fun running around making sure the girls are all registered for their Summer activities. History Girl: Band Camp, 5 weeks of Middle School Adventure Camp and Harry Potter Girl Scout Camp (which is an over night camp) Horse Girl: 6 weeks of day camp, Trip week (every day they take them to a different fun location...this happens to be the week that History Girl is at overnight camp so I will be able to just veg and take a break for myself that week....I wonder if I can get Fly Guy to take a day or two off that week) Lastly there has been the end of year wrap-ups for the girls to make sure things are in place for them for next year. Horse Girl needs to have a teacher who is ready to deal with someone with the phonological issues she has, and luckily there is a second grade teacher who is very good that that at her school. History Girl is moving from our nice small Elementary School to a much larger Middle School so there has been a lot of time spent getting her ready for the big transition, but I think she will do fine...she is looking forward to band and drama and French....so I am sure all will be fine.
So that is my update for now. :-)
Horse Girl right now is at her riding lessons. Fly Guy took her this morning so I could have time to myself. (History Girl is camping with her Girl Scout troop.) Yesterday I was in the school for the whole day either working or volunteering. With just two weeks left in school I end up spending most of my days there. Any how Horse Girl's speech therapist and then her reading tutor came to talk to me. They are both amazed how well she is doing right now. Their only fear is that we are going into Summer vacation, Horse Girl is known for the large regression she has with speech and language even over just a long weekend like Memorial Day weekend. Horse Girl is getting Summer services which is great, but Fly Guy and I will have really work with her over the Summer too, so she just keeps going. Both her teachers talked about Horse Girl's great work ethic and how hard she is working lately. I told them I knew she was working hard at school because every day she comes home and just wrung out. She works so hard at school she is physically exhausted at the end of the day and the last few weeks she has been more tired then she has been the rest of the year.
Things are going well for Fly Guy....I don't think there is anything to report since they are going so smoothly.
With me I finally was able to shake that last depression and then I just have been busy with Girl Scouts....I just got my Leadership Development pin with 3 leafs (one leaf for every 10 hours of extra training I have done for Girl Scouts). I already know that I am going to get two more leafs before the end of September. Then there is always the fun running around making sure the girls are all registered for their Summer activities. History Girl: Band Camp, 5 weeks of Middle School Adventure Camp and Harry Potter Girl Scout Camp (which is an over night camp) Horse Girl: 6 weeks of day camp, Trip week (every day they take them to a different fun location...this happens to be the week that History Girl is at overnight camp so I will be able to just veg and take a break for myself that week....I wonder if I can get Fly Guy to take a day or two off that week) Lastly there has been the end of year wrap-ups for the girls to make sure things are in place for them for next year. Horse Girl needs to have a teacher who is ready to deal with someone with the phonological issues she has, and luckily there is a second grade teacher who is very good that that at her school. History Girl is moving from our nice small Elementary School to a much larger Middle School so there has been a lot of time spent getting her ready for the big transition, but I think she will do fine...she is looking forward to band and drama and French....so I am sure all will be fine.
So that is my update for now. :-)
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