Things Worth Remembering The three habits that lead to success are: Patience, Application, and Vision.
Take care: The person who will tell others' faults to you - will tell yours to others.
It is always better to be underestimated.
There are three things that are better than riches: Health, Freedom, and Honor.
Think swiftly, speak softly, act wisely.
"The world is neither Scottish, English, nor Irish, neither French, Dutch, nor Chinese, but human, and each nation is only the partial development of a universal humanity." - James Grant on founding the National Association for the Vindication of Scottish Rights, 1862
All from: The Book of Celtic Wisdom
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(aka – Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Brownies adopted from LaPaz’s Simple gluten-free brownie recipe)
In mixer combine:
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 T vanilla
Mix until smooth and creamy
In separate bowl combine:
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup brown rice flour
1/4 t salt
Add dry ingredients gradually to egg mixture.
Mix well at medium speed (start slowly and work up to faster).
Melt 1 cup Earth Balance margarine and drizzle into batter as mixer is running.
Mix well.
Pour into greased brownie pan ( I used 9 X 13) and bake at 350 until inserted knife comes clean. Approximately 35 minutes.
LaPaz suggests letting them cool before enjoying, but that’s just not how we work around here. I suggest eating them nearly the minute they come out of the oven.
Jocasta Nu: “No co-ordinates? It sounds like the kind of directions you’d get from a street tout… some old miner or Furbog trader.”
Obi-Wan: “All three actually.”
Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones
In the mood to be my confidant? No? Too bad, you’ve already been sucked in just by reading this.
Frankly, I realized last night that I am experiencing a crisis of purpose. I tried to explain it to Dad Windu but he just didn’t get what I was saying. He just wanted to fix it. That whole Mars vs. Venus thing.
In a nutshell, I just don’t know what to do with myself – in any area – right now: homeschooling/unschooling planning/activities, personal activities & hobbies, and some greater “meaning” (whatever that means). I feel somewhat like someone hit me on the head and dropped me in the middle of Prague – a nice place and all I’m sure – but I don’t know which way to turn, which road to follow, where to begin.
It’s not depression, because I’m not sad or withdrawn or anything like that; it’s just a lack of direction I think. The things I used to do – dutch, knitting, etc – aren’t what they used to be. Are they things I did out of habit? It’s like the interest stayed in GR. Make any sense? What’s your armchair therapist take on the situation? Have any idea about which road to take? Been here yourself?
Many thanks to Red Leader (aka ScoutMom) for this recipe.
3/4 C. margarine, softened
1 C. white sugar
1/4 C. molasses
1 1/2 t. baking soda (put in 1/4 C. measure, add water to fill)
2 1/2 C. all-purpose flour
2 t. ground ginger
1 t. ground cinnamon
1/4 t. ground nutmeg (freshly ground is best)
1/4 t. ground cloves
1/4 t. salt
In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and the sugar until fluffy. Stir in molasses and water/baking soda mixture, mixing at low speed until just combined. Sift or whisk together flour, salt and spices. Add gradually to the sugar/margarine mixture until combined.
Refrigerate dough for 1 hour.
Shape dough into walnut-sized balls. Place 2 inches apart on parchment paper-lined cookie sheet. Return dough to refrigerator between batches. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10-12 minutes. Cool. Eat. Not necessarily in that order.
Notes: Red Leader rolls her dough balls in additional sugar and flattens them with a fork, baking them on an ungreased cookie sheet. We prefer them unsugared. And I have a thing for parchment paper, an obsession really.
“You must unlearn what you have learned.” – Yoda, Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back
Back in the day I was a homeschooling mom, at least that’s what my tagline says. Ok, I’m still a homeschooling mom - or eclectic, non-radical unschooling mom if you prefer that label – but it feels like I’ve let the move take over my life these past couple of months. And it has, to an extent, but not exclusively. I am learning, slowly, to step away from The Schedule and let the learning happen in a more relaxed manner.
In our day to day lives, well maybe week to week lives depending on where we’re living at the moment, Padawan Learner is continuing to explore the world of geometry (which he MUCH prefers to algebra). It’s concrete and tangible and he can readily see it being used in the world around him. And for whatever reason, he loves the fact that all angles in triangle add up to 180 degrees. Simple pleasures.
PL is also nearly through reading Joy Hakim’s A History of US . He’s been going through it in fits and starts this year, but since we’ve borrowed the series he’s making work of getting it read before we leave town. She did a nice job covering the history of our land and the people who have inhabited it. And she did it in a way that doesn’t complete turn most late elementary and middle school kids off. That’s nothing to sniff at. When I read the books, it’s almost like a favored aunt is talking – conversational, informed, slightly gossipy and a bit opinionated at times. We also found overviews that were contradictory in tone and interpretation to make sure that we saw other sides to our nation’s history.
Star Wars ancillary fiction and Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series have taken pride of place in PL’s recreational reading these past few months. It would appear that the doings of Moist von Lipwig (and his none too benevolent over-seer, Lord Vetinari) are just too entertaining to put down. I spotted a new visual dictionary, LEGO Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary , the other day at the bookstore, but didn’t have time to check it out. It might not be something PL would be interested in anymore (although the fun factor might be too high to pass up), but it’s probably perfect for the younger Fanboy and Fangirl set.
Out of time for now. Just wanted to remember out-loud that there’s more to live than moving. See, I’m learning.
“I’m not really supposed to do that… for fun, I mean.” – Anakin, Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones
What happens when the highway engineers of the world get a little punch-drunk? Highway Engineer Pranks. My favorite is the Rotary Supercollider.
“That’s funny the damage doesn’t look as bad from out here.” – C-3PO, Star Wars IV: A New Hope
Since I had to change the dressing this morning anyway, I thought I might as well snap a picture of Padawan Learner’s fingernail-less finger for posterity. This will also help any future spouse understand that his propensity to hurt himself in exceedingly painful ways is long-standing. I’m just saying it’s handy having a doctor completing her pediatric residency living two doors down.
Click through, if you want to see the visual portion of our show today.
Continue reading That’s funny the damage doesn’t look as bad from out here.
“We would be honored if you would join us.” – Darth Vader, Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back
(part two)
Ready to play another round of Is the Hype Worth the Press? (Aka – more wishful thinking about cool stuff) My last post got me mentally planning a few more things that I’m just Jones-ing to try out.
Kindle 2: Amazon’s New Wireless Reading Device
The reviews on the Kindle 2 have been relatively good overall, but I wonder a bit if people don’t sometimes talk themselves into raving about something they’ve just shucked out a a handsome swash of cash for it. At least I know that I have been guilty of doing just that in the past. My biggest concerns are how durable it is (I do have a 13 year old in the house) and if I would miss the swish of turning pages and the physical heft of holding 250+ pages.
A KitchenAid Stand Mixer
I make bread by hand, but I think I’d probably be willing to give that up in a minute to have a KitchenAid Stand Mixer mix it up for me. If everything I’ve heard about them is true, that is. $350 is a pretty steep price tag is all I would end up using it for was making chocolate chip cookies and banana bread. Dough is a pretty heavy mixture to push around, with the added danger of too much and too rough manipulation potentially making the dough tough. Still, I’d be willing to give it a whirl if one were to show up at my front door!
Mini Cooper
And just to round out today’s list of things I’d love to have a crack at but can’t for the life of me afford, I submit… the Mini Cooper. It’s small, decidedly adorable, and is said to corner like a go-kart (and how I do love go-karts). Its gas mileage is decent, although lower than Dad Windu’s somewhat draconian “40 mpg minimum” demands, but I’ve heard you can really bump up the stated amounts by driving like a good doobie. As I generally tend to drive at (and even sometimes a bit below) the speed limit, don’t race off the line or stomp on the brakes to stop, I’d be interested to see what I could drag out of one if given a chance. Of greatest concern to me is how this cute little car would handle a Midwestern winter and how well would I end up getting to know my mechanic. Would a Mini get bogged down in the snow? Could it push itself through the crusty lip of slush that forms at the end of my driveway after a day’s worth of cars driving up and down the street? Could the frame handle that annual harbinger of spring – potholes the depth and breadth of Lake Erie? Would it eat brakes and clutches like Padawan Learner eats cocktail wienies?
Note to Mini Cooper USA (should they be interested in handing the keys over to me): British Racing Green, white top and mirrors, manual transmission to boost gas mileage, and – preferably – some of that custom-fit luggage you used to sell (for the road trips that would be absolutely necessary to test it out proper) would be lovely.
“We would be honored if you would join us.” – Darth Vader, Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back
Time for an exciting round of Is the Hype Worth the Press? – The Apple Version (aka – wishful thinking about hot, new technology).
Because Dad Windu has to work pretty hard for each dollar he brings home, I do not part from our family’s cash easily. Something has to really blow my socks off to peel the dollar bills from my hands. Thus, I am not an early adopter of electronic gear – although as a card-carrying tech junkie I would l.o.v.e to be an early adopter. I’m the one who would come to your house and play with your electronic gadgets for hours on end, if only you’d let me.
The iPod Nano’s (and assorted docking accessories) that I bought for Dad Windu, Padawan Learner and myself last Christmas were the first Apple products that we’ve every owned. Shocking, I know. While I can’t say I’ve become a devotee, I have definitely caught of glimpse of the pixie dust flying around. But to really drink the Kool-Aid, I’d have to be bowled over by one or more of the following:
iPhone
I would love to get my hands on an iPhone. My current cell phone is little more than a step up from two tin cans and a string. Seriously. Welcome to 2001, Obi-Mom Kenobi! It can neither take nor receive pictures. Its keypad is far too small to text anything more than S.O.S. It has a battery life of approximately 15 seconds. It can’t even download ringtones. Theoretically it can – the manual says it can – but what actually happens is the phone freezes up and makes very, very, very bad sounds while it runs through the remaining 14 seconds of battery life. We bought it last summer when I did something very stupid. Yet it is the only mobile phone our family has. Because it is so pathetic, I rarely use it. While I find many of the apps available for the iPhone ridiculous, several appear to be potentially quite useful. I guess the biggest question I have is for that much money (in addition to a rather steep monthly service fee), would it really become an essential part of my daily life or just a source of short-term entertainment?
MacBook Air
I should admit right now that we Jedi don’t own a single laptop. I hang my head in shame. I am a tech geek without the must fundamental piece of tech. Oh, how I would love to change that fact! We’ve owned PC’s up to this point (they’re cheaper overall – if less reliable and more prone to viruses – and we can order them at a serious discount through Dad Windu’s office), but I used an older MacBook last year while traveling with a friend and found the Mac interface a pleasant experience. This same friend just got a MacBook Air. It’s a shame she lives on the complete opposite end of the continent because I’d love to put one through its paces.
iHome Stereo Mini Speakers
These little speakers are tiny, tiny, tiny which would make them perfect for traveling (and they come in my favorite color – bright red!), but can they deliver the sound? If they live up to the 4 and 5 star review on Apple.com, I could easily see Padawan Learner and I using these in our Roomette on an Amtrak train when we go out west to visit friends and family (this fall? next spring?). But at nearly $50 for something that there is a pretty good chance we’d be losing along the way (they’re the size of walnuts)… they’d have to prove themselves to be pretty darn amazing.
Mr. Jobs (or any of his people) can feel free to contact me with shipping info at their earliest convenience. I’ll be sure to give them an honest review.
“It is clear to me now that the Republic no longer functions. … I pray you will bring sanity and compassion back to the Senate.” - Queen Amidala, Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace
The inauguration is upon us. In a few hours the American people will have a new President, the Federal government will have a new agenda, and hopefully America will have a fresh start. I do not believe that all things will improve for all people in all ways because of this change. I do, however, believe we have the potential to move this country in new and better directions for many, if not most, citizens and residents. Time only will tell if we – President Obama, Congress, and the American people – take this opportunity to better our country, our states and our communities or fritter it away in politics-as-usual power plays, snarky back-biting, and selfish wastefulness.
I wish us all wisdom, self-restraint and foresight.
“Anakin! Tell them to take off!” - Qui-Gon Jinn, Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace
To dreamland, that is!
Harken back to yesteryear all Star Wars geek boys and girls. Do you remember these wicked, cool sheets from the first time around? My brother had a set that he used so long he wore holes straight through the fabric. When the bottom sheet finally and completely went, my mom made curtains for his bedroom from the top sheet. Good times.
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Secular Homeschoolers Unite!
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