tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81659384614043939632024-03-14T00:14:52.380-06:00Pig and CowA view of the world from three inches off the ground.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165938461404393963.post-47498401557493083772010-12-20T22:47:00.002-06:002010-12-20T22:58:02.814-06:00Happy B-Day Cat-the-Meanie<span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Cat's been a meanie and a computer hog. She wouldn't let us on the computer the whole time she was student teaching. Like months and months. 16 whole weeks. Not even to tell you that the children didn't eat her.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">I kinda wish the children HAD eaten her!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Well, not really . . . </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Meanie.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">In the mean time, she taught lots of lessons, nannied for the family, went to game, and watched lots of TV (mostly SG-1 because that's on all the time on SyFy). Then she moved away from school last week because she's all done. I guess she has this Master's Degree thing she was working on. Is that important? The family she nannied for will miss her, but I like the new place ok. Deirdre already came to visit, because Adrien isn't far away. This is much better I think, but nobody listens to me (and no one lets me on the computer, either.)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Cat has to look for a real job. For a while she's going to sub, and probably be poor. Good thing she has time to look for jobs to apply for now. It seems kind of boring.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">The cable's better up here, I'm hoping to find some other good TV to watch. Unless Cat won't let me watch TV either. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Cat turned 25 today. It was good because it was a pretty normal day. The last two years have been really lame as far as birthdays. So a pretty normal birthday is a big improvement. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Also, Cat's hair is red now. Well, not all red, just pieces. Like highlights, but not as stupid looking. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">That's all I have for now. Maybe Cat will let one of us on to talk about Christmas. It wouldn't be that hard. Really. Meanie.</span>Tipsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11424806047771981102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165938461404393963.post-36564744197138220302010-08-07T14:26:00.004-06:002010-08-07T14:40:33.862-06:00Sewing Day<span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">I know Snibbly posted yesterday, but you probably wanted to hear from me. And we have more pictures. Cat and Jamie had a sewing day (Jamie was sewing for Child #1). Cat worked on some clothes for the girls. Here are some pictures.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/TF3CmaBLx5I/AAAAAAAAAJY/yjP255VLDF8/s1600/DSCN1321.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/TF3CmaBLx5I/AAAAAAAAAJY/yjP255VLDF8/s320/DSCN1321.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502768284791719826" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Cat altered this for Kohana-chan. It's another Target outfit. It had a grey coat too, but Cat doesn't like it and says it'd be a bother to take in. But the blouse is cute and can go with lots of things.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/TF3ClxruWlI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/gGtTKuCJyAI/s1600/DSCN1315.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/TF3ClxruWlI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/gGtTKuCJyAI/s320/DSCN1315.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502768273964292690" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">This look is a little more sporty. Also an altered Target outfit, it made Cat marvel at the poor craftsmanship of the doll clothes - though she says it does make it easy to take out and alter. </span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/TF3Clb5YutI/AAAAAAAAAJI/U31IzIIYNQE/s1600/DSCN1310.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/TF3Clb5YutI/AAAAAAAAAJI/U31IzIIYNQE/s320/DSCN1310.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502768268116015826" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Remember the outfit that made Cathy look fat? Well, it's back, with improvements. Cat was working on a sash, and Jamie suggested she make the edges fringy. Turns out fringe rocks the outfit. Cat also did a little piece for her hair - also with the fringe. Jamie gave Cat some ribbon to make a choker for Cathy - also way cool. Way stylish. And Cathy doesn't look fat. She still wants some black leggings, but she's okay with this for now. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Good for the girls - very pretty ladies. On a personal note, why can't the freakin' SyFy channel (what was wrong with SciFi anyway?) show their reruns in order?!? Cat and I have been trying to watch Sanctuary for months now, but they keep showing the same ones! And they keep getting to the middle of season 3 of Stargate Atlantis and starting over! Bad plan, SyFy, bad plan. You are making this cow mad!</span>Tipsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11424806047771981102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165938461404393963.post-62647665589461298742010-08-05T14:24:00.010-06:002010-08-05T14:57:37.865-06:00Exciting Summer<span style="font-family:times new roman;">Hello friends. Our blog remains intermittent at best, mostly because Miss Caitlin has a less than exciting life. She relates only the feeling that it is "way too hot." I think she is mistaken, however, as she will soon be starting student teaching at one of the local schools in the library. This, however, might meet some huddles as the teachers have declared their willingness to </span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.news-gazette.com/news/education/2010-07-29/mahomet-seymour-teachers-approve-intent-strike-notice.html">strike</a><span style="font-family:times new roman;">. Hopefully this will work out without a hitch.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Miss Caitlin has been doing some sewing, and some of our friends have been clamoring to have their pictures displayed for a long time.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: times new roman;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/TFshcyqn0BI/AAAAAAAAAHA/W2_roLVbozA/s1600/DSCN1307.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/TFshcyqn0BI/AAAAAAAAAHA/W2_roLVbozA/s320/DSCN1307.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502028148283789330" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Kohana-chan wears a nice summer dress with white leggings. Very charming, though Kohana-chan keeps complaining that the ensemble would look more pleasing (and be more in line with current fashion) if the leggings were black. As Miss Caitlin made the leggings by altering a pair of tights made for Target's line of dolls, she has little sympathy. </span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: times new roman;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/TFshOsqutmI/AAAAAAAAAGw/iSegpGQcai0/s1600/DSCN1305.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/TFshOsqutmI/AAAAAAAAAGw/iSegpGQcai0/s320/DSCN1305.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502027906155460194" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">This is Miss Caitlin's latest creation. She admits that perhaps it is not the most flattering for Miss Cathy's figure. She suggests that a sash would rectify much of the problem, and even has a nice lime green semi-sheer to make it out of. She has not yet had a chance to make the sash. </span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: times new roman;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/TFshITTLokI/AAAAAAAAAGo/CznypVGKksI/s1600/DSCN1303.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/TFshITTLokI/AAAAAAAAAGo/CznypVGKksI/s320/DSCN1303.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502027796266590786" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Spud was upset that everyone else was having their picture taken. He also has a new garment - a pair of baggy denim shorts. He keeps insisting they are "barracuda shorts," even though Miss Caitlin keeps reminding him they're supposed to be "Bermuda shorts." </span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: times new roman;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/TFshC5_mTQI/AAAAAAAAAGg/aP6Z6UlZPzo/s1600/DSCN1299.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/TFshC5_mTQI/AAAAAAAAAGg/aP6Z6UlZPzo/s320/DSCN1299.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502027703574220034" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Miss Comfort shows off her "pretty, pretty princess dress." While I concur with Miss Caitlin that the color and cut are as pleasing on Comfort as is possible, I could do without her "princess" attitude, which is far from "pretty."</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/TFsg0co8V2I/AAAAAAAAAGY/zsnqYo_ow1U/s1600/DSCN1296.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/TFsg0co8V2I/AAAAAAAAAGY/zsnqYo_ow1U/s320/DSCN1296.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502027455176398690" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">This ensemble is altered from a set put out by Target for their dolls. Kohana-chan is quite stylish in this outfit, though she was disappointed that it is rather too warm to wear in the current weather. Miss Caitlin says that the hardest part about altering for Kohana-chan is that she has rather more of a figure than the American girl dolls, and so a different amount of fabric must be taken out of different places. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Hopefully there will be more interesting news later. Miss Deirdre has promised me pictures while she is far away in Montana, but has yet to send me any. I endure the lack as best I may. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165938461404393963.post-68566693909312648022010-05-24T15:02:00.010-06:002010-05-24T15:29:33.904-06:00Zoo!<span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Cat's finally done with all her classwork (she got all A's and all that). She came to her parent's house and then went to her cousin's wedding. That's all fine and nice, but then today we got to go someplace really fun: the zoo! Snibbly didn't want to go - he said something about "trivial" and "juvenile." But I wanted to go, so Cat and Mr. Cat's Dad took me.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">For those who may not know, zoos are places where they keep wild animals, not animals like pigs and cows that are kept as people's friends. But they do have some wild animals that are related to us. Like this warthog that I'm posing with.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/S_rqTjZ3ggI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/jDQCm8yFuJw/s1600/IMG_0282.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/S_rqTjZ3ggI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/jDQCm8yFuJw/s320/IMG_0282.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474945918664409602" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Most animals were hiding in the shade - it was hot today! Like this lion. He's not stupid.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/S_rqzTw3uyI/AAAAAAAAAIY/wlbPJU1ESpw/s1600/IMG_0285.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/S_rqzTw3uyI/AAAAAAAAAIY/wlbPJU1ESpw/s320/IMG_0285.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474946464221739810" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">We spent a lot of time avoiding large groups of kids. So after the big cats, we swung by the seals and sea lions. The dolphins were close while they finish up their new pool thing. Sad. But here's a sea lion getting up close and personal with the viewing window. They were really playful - probably because they get to play in the water all the time.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/S_rrRh8ViVI/AAAAAAAAAIg/h9RIc6DjER8/s1600/IMG_0290.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/S_rrRh8ViVI/AAAAAAAAAIg/h9RIc6DjER8/s320/IMG_0290.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474946983424002386" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255); font-family: arial;">Cat was sad there were no walruses. I wasn't sure what a walrus was, but then Cat and Mr. Cat's Dad set up to take a picture at this statue of a walrus named Olga. Apparently, she was Cat's bother's favorite animal when he was very little. Something about blowing in his face and making him giggle? Anyway, I guess there are a number of pictures with the Olga statue floating around. And by Cat and her dad, I mean Cat in the picture and her dad taking it. He got his sole stolen in so many pictures during the wedding, Cat felt bad and didn't try to take any of him.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/S_rsIWhyVfI/AAAAAAAAAIo/gLH2jFeo6hY/s1600/IMG_0292.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/S_rsIWhyVfI/AAAAAAAAAIo/gLH2jFeo6hY/s320/IMG_0292.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474947925252658674" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Cat's eyes are all squinty because it was so bright today. We noticed that the chlidren's zoo was all but deserted, and Cat and Mr. Cat's Dad couldn't remember what was there. But we found some special visitors there! I had to say hi to the ladies - see if we had any mutual acquaintances, that sort of thing.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/S_rs7ahGv-I/AAAAAAAAAIw/bnSwaGjrvuI/s1600/IMG_0298.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/S_rs7ahGv-I/AAAAAAAAAIw/bnSwaGjrvuI/s320/IMG_0298.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474948802496872418" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Also - a lazy pig. I suppose I'm lucky since Snibbly is a little bit civilized - but he has been just as lazy as this guy all weekend while I've been out having adventures!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/S_rtUS20AiI/AAAAAAAAAI4/lb4ZEnqtXqk/s1600/IMG_0293.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/S_rtUS20AiI/AAAAAAAAAI4/lb4ZEnqtXqk/s320/IMG_0293.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474949229937164834" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">While we were at the children's zoo, Cat brushed some goats. I think the whole thing was silly, so you'll have to look at her facebook to get those pictures. After the hoards of school kids left, we went to visit the new bear exhibit. The bears were pretty lame (they looked hot) but the bison in their new habitat looked pretty cool. They're a kind of bovine, right? Cousins or something?</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/S_ruDzCbjWI/AAAAAAAAAJA/12fUNhyCwIk/s1600/IMG_0299.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/S_ruDzCbjWI/AAAAAAAAAJA/12fUNhyCwIk/s320/IMG_0299.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474950046029679970" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Cat has been doing some sewing. She took pictures last week, but didn't give us time on the computer to post them. So look forward to that. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">That's all I got for that - but yay summertime!</span>Tipsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11424806047771981102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165938461404393963.post-38159874685353068372010-03-24T16:05:00.005-06:002010-03-24T16:29:10.954-06:00Spring Vacation<span style="font-family:times new roman;">Aha! I have control of the computer while Miss Caitlin plays games, Miss Caitlin's Bother plays with her DS, and Tipsy watches Miss Caitlin's Mother play on Facebook!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Miss Caitlin has taken us with her on Spring Break. Miss Caitlin has already done quite a bit. She finished a dress for Miss Comfort. It is one of Miss Caitlin's "drancy fesses" as she insists on calling them. Miss Comfort has been most insufferable since the thing has been finished. She has continually flounced around crying "I'm a pretty princess!" and demanding that someone make her a crown. I have no pictures to show you of this blue sparkly monstrosity, but I will probably be forced into posting some later. She also made a pair of "Bermuda shorts" for</span> Spud, who has been much more graceful in is acceptance.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Miss Caitlin and Miss Caitlin's excellent Mother went to see Cirque du Solei. Miss Caitlin came back babbling about clown routines and the Cirque's special rigging. It seemed it was quite enjoyable. Miss Caitlin's Mother suggests that it would have been a great thing for children to see, and seems to have tucked it away as an idea for when she has grandchildren some time in the distant future.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Miss Caitlin has taken us to Michigan, where she is relaxing with her Grandmother, her Mother, and her Bother. They have played several games of Carcassonne. Miss Caitlin did not listen to my sage advice and was therefore beaten twice by her relatives.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">She will head to her parent's house some time tomorrow, where she will file an amended tax return and hopefully spend a chunk of the rest of the time with her friends in the area. I hope to have a chance to see Lady Deirdre, for while Miss Adrien guested with us back in February, she neglected to bring with her our dearest friend. I hope to also see Gip, as she sent me a nice package a while back, and I wish to thank her personally for her thoughtfulness.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Miss Caitlin also has to fit in a good amount of homework, including reading for her Child Language Development class, studying for a test in her "education psychology" class (it should be renamed as "education philosophy"), and some readings and responses for her school media specialist class. For her practicum, she needs to put together a few lessons on teaching reference sources to third graders. She has decided that she needs to design a lesson on guide words to start, and then something to reinforce keywords. She has some loose thoughts that are beginning to take shape.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165938461404393963.post-30280389729277655672010-02-10T10:35:00.006-06:002010-02-10T10:57:02.483-06:00Dolly Stuff<span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);font-family:arial;" >Cat doesn't like the snow. She said she's sick of it, and now I think she thinks it's out to get her. She spun out coming home Monday night - luckily she was the only one on the highway and she didn't end up in the ditch. She scared herself pretty bad, but both her and the awesome car (with its sweet ABS brakes) are fine. Anyway, she was fine that everything for yesterday got canceled, and that her school visit today got canceled too.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);font-family:arial;" >Cat worked on Child #1's birthday present yesterday with the time she got by everything being canceled. She was a little worried it wouldn't get done in time, but it looks awesome.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/S3LhchD3bSI/AAAAAAAAAIA/TwfGHAagFKU/s1600-h/DSCN1285.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/S3LhchD3bSI/AAAAAAAAAIA/TwfGHAagFKU/s320/DSCN1285.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436655580216782114" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);font-family:arial;" >Things to note - light blue sparkly fabric, little flower bows with bling in them on all the scallops, and a bolero with a feathery edging. That's right - feathery edging. Cat should get her act together and VACUUM after messing up the room with the stuff. She said she saw it in the store, thought "Oh, that's perfect! But the future me is going to hate me for it!" The future Cat did hate the Cat that picked it out, and so do the rest of us, but the dress does look a lot more sophisticated with it. It's for Child #1's Kirsten - it'll probably look nicer on Kirsten than it does here on Cathy - consolation for Cathy who, for the second year running, has to give up a fantastic dress.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);font-family:arial;" >Last year, people may remember, Cathy was also used to fit the birthday gift for Child #1. The coloring was even less suited to her, and therefore easier for her to let go of. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/S3Li_j00z6I/AAAAAAAAAII/dGL9TNbM7OE/s1600-h/DSCN1233.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/S3Li_j00z6I/AAAAAAAAAII/dGL9TNbM7OE/s320/DSCN1233.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436657281766051746" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);font-family:arial;" >Cathy now awaits the day when Cat will make something cool for HER.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255);font-family:arial;" >Cat's going to try to get a fashion show of her dresses on the dolls that they were actually made for. Hopefully that will be soon. </span>Tipsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11424806047771981102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165938461404393963.post-59268637117873994072010-01-22T19:44:00.005-06:002010-01-22T19:54:27.613-06:00January and the Return to School<span style="font-family: times new roman;">Greetings. I have the pleasure to announce the successful completion of the Plan with the return of Josey! She spent an enjoyable time abroad in Greece and Germany, and after visiting our friends back in Missouri, she has come back to us. She was rather surprised to find that we had moved but has settled in well here. She would not mind going on another trip, so if any our friends are set to go abroad, or even to another location within the States, please let us know and Josey would be happy to accompany you. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Miss Caitlin has started classes - one about children and language development, and another on language development. She hopes the first will be interesting, while the second has her saying bad things about the Education department. I am happy to say she only needs four classes from said department - it would be cruel, unusual, and unjustified punishment of us if she were required to take more. She is taking one class from her normal graduate school - that for learning to become a school librarian. She is not too hopeful that this will be helpful - rather she has higher hopes in her practicum with a local school librarian. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">My good friend Gip sent a package that arrived today. She has given me little stationary cards and a notebook, in addition to some scrumptious snacks. Very thoughtful of her. I generously gave Miss Caitlin a pair of socks that were also enclosed. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165938461404393963.post-46655073092840023452009-12-24T14:26:00.003-06:002009-12-24T14:39:39.405-06:00After the Funeral<span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255); font-family: arial;">So Cat's Grandpa died over the weekend after several days of not having any brain activity. Several of Cat's relatives poked him, whispering things to the effect of "Teddy, you forgot to turn your body off when you left." So Cat's Mom and Bother were their when he actually died. Then everyone descended on the house (including little children - ah!), and they had a Big Fat Polish Funeral. In addition to black and white, many people wore red - I guess that's from the Polish flag. Also Cat's Grandpa wore it all the time. And they served Polish sausage at the luncheon - and a concertina player (that's an accordion folks) played polkas through the luncheon. Cat says the grave site thing was nice. They put him next to Cat's Uncle Scottie - she's glad the little boy isn't alone now. They did the Catholic prayer thing and then the V.A. did their bit. They were too cheap to get him hearing aids while he was alive, but they did send four nice young service men to help the old guys do the gun salute thing and the stuff with the flag. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255); font-family: arial;">Cat's birthday sort of got postponed - you know people were busy with other things that had to be done so they could bury Grandpa on time. That was okay - Cat didn't feel like having a fuss then anyway. Though her Aunt decided last minute to make a cake, and that was good. Not a lot of fuss - just enough to know it wasn't forgotten. So one of these days, Cat will actually have her birthday. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255); font-family: arial;">Christmas is also low key, though we do have plenty of presents to guard. Sheepy seems to want to steal them . . . we'll have to keep an eye on her. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 255); font-family: arial;">Hopefully, we'll get to see some of our friends before we get dragged back to Champaign or out to Michigan, but plans are still really shaky and Cat's not sure when she's going to be where. </span>Tipsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11424806047771981102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165938461404393963.post-11853063371295376772009-12-18T14:02:00.002-06:002009-12-18T14:03:41.416-06:00Bad News, Bad Time<span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 204, 255);">Cat's Grandpa is dying. It sucks. We're in Michigan instead of under the Christmas Tree at home or at Cat's Mom and Dad's.</span>Tipsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11424806047771981102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165938461404393963.post-13248546667144365212009-11-22T18:58:00.004-06:002009-11-22T19:10:01.062-06:00Miss Caitlin, the Computer Hog<span style="font-family: times new roman;">It turns out that a masters degree in Library and Information Science requires a person to be on the computer a great deal of the time. Miss Caitlin has been constantly doing homework for her computer networking class or her cataloging class, and then she turns it off to read for her children's literature assignments. It is most vexing.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Miss Caitlin has made it into the K-12 Media Specialist program, meaning she will be certified to work in Illinois schools as a librarian. She has to take a bunch of education classes, so that won't be hard, but then she has to do a practicum and student teaching. I am not at all interested in this part of her education - sticky children are not at all interesting to me.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Miss Caitlin is still ill and not sleeping. The sleep specialist has gotten back to her saying her sleep study was "inconclusive." Miss Caitlin thinks that means they want to get more of her money. But she needs to sleep so . . .</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">In happier news, Deirdre and Miss Adrien came to visit. They young ladies spent their time on campus mostly, while Deirdre stayed with us. However, Tipsy positively hung on her the whole time, so I was unable to meet with Deirdre alone.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">She will travel this week for Thanksgiving to visit her Grandparents and immediate family. Hopefully she will remember to take us as well.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165938461404393963.post-90215995526305754792009-07-10T17:29:00.002-06:002009-07-10T17:35:14.370-06:00Departure for Libraryland<span style="font-family: times new roman;">Miss Caitlin and I head tonight to Chicago, where we will attend the annual American Library Association conference. We will be staying at her bother's house, which is a bit away from the conference, though on the correct CTA line to arrive there. She has a loose schedule of interesting things for us to do, though the main point is to go and see how an annual conference works, so that in the future she can take better advantage of it. In the future, in this case, refers to a time when she would be actively seeking a job. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">I hope to have pictures to display from the conference, in addition to reports on all the interesting things we learn while there. Fear not, we will continue posting pictures of Josey on her adventures, and I believe that Dierdre also sent us some to post from the National Park she works at. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165938461404393963.post-79882709623104275072009-06-25T17:29:00.008-06:002009-06-25T17:48:35.496-06:00False Alarm<span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);font-family:arial;" >Cat's still miserable. Air test said mold's not enough to be causing the continued problems. What is causing the problem? No one's sure . . . isn't that exciting? Meanwhile Cat is stupid, incompetent, and really frustrated about it. Examples include repeatedly needing to be shown how to override holds at the public library, replying to a list of people instead of just the one she wants to talk to in an email (even though she HATES people who do that), not being able to read her text book because the words "won't stay still," and leaving us here TWICE when she went to visit her family (and, you know, half our friends). So mostly she cries about it, since no one can figure out anything constructive to do about it. Comfort tries to, you know, comfort her, but there's only so much that can be done. It's been going on for MONTHS now and no one's got a clue. And somehow this is an excuse for her to hog the computer . . .</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);font-family:arial;" >In other news, more pictures from Josey. </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/SkQL38tWJBI/AAAAAAAAAHk/kRzAvnpzZNQ/s1600-h/GS101-MeteoraXI.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/SkQL38tWJBI/AAAAAAAAAHk/kRzAvnpzZNQ/s320/GS101-MeteoraXI.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351415313040024594" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/SkQMLrHuibI/AAAAAAAAAH4/6zy2WYHGVZw/s1600-h/GS114-MeteoraXXIV.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/SkQMLrHuibI/AAAAAAAAAH4/6zy2WYHGVZw/s320/GS114-MeteoraXXIV.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351415651916220850" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);font-family:arial;" >These are from some monasteries in Meteora. Look at the view! Josey seemed to like this weekend trip, but CFJ writes in her email that it was really tiring because of all the hiking, and she got annoyed because she had to keep wearing a skirt! I remember Cat had a tie-on skirt she would put on when we visited churches when we went. CFJ says Josey had it easy because she was in her coat pocket - coat pocket!! I'm glad we always had Cat's bag. That seems more roomy, though Cat kept shoving OTHER stuff in, like souvenirs and stuff. Anyway, the Plan continues . . .</span>Tipsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11424806047771981102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165938461404393963.post-84630701391681014192009-06-13T19:06:00.006-06:002009-06-13T19:30:11.058-06:00Sickness . . . to be Fixed Soon?Miss Caitlin has been sick and hogging the computer. She has not been getting much done besides work and her practicum at a local library. She had an expert in mold abatement come and he said that the people hired by the landlord were at best mistaken when they said that there was no visible mold. At worst they were induced to report as the landlord wished. Either possibility has Miss Caitlin . . . frustrated with the landlord. She awaits the results of the air testing.<br /><br />In other news, Josey has gotten back to us about the continuation of the Plan! She has been very busy. We will put up her photographs over a few posts. Here she is on the island of Crete, exploring the labyrinths of Knossos.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SjRRyg8PnaI/AAAAAAAAAGM/I58fHuOFZuc/s1600-h/GS52-KnossosX.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SjRRyg8PnaI/AAAAAAAAAGM/I58fHuOFZuc/s320/GS52-KnossosX.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346988585873546658" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SjRRZjQTpNI/AAAAAAAAAF8/NNB0o8A2Cn4/s1600-h/GS49-KnossosVII.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SjRRZjQTpNI/AAAAAAAAAF8/NNB0o8A2Cn4/s320/GS49-KnossosVII.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346988156997838034" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SjRRR8pBZPI/AAAAAAAAAF0/26A08wlfXxc/s1600-h/GS48-KnossosVI.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SjRRR8pBZPI/AAAAAAAAAF0/26A08wlfXxc/s320/GS48-KnossosVI.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346988026373432562" border="0" /></a><br />It seems Josey had critical bow failure in most of the pictures and spent most of the time trying to not lose it. She had other things to occupy her mind while on her adventures.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165938461404393963.post-48291348971643415852009-05-12T12:06:00.002-06:002009-05-12T12:17:04.422-06:00Late in Posting, as Usual<span style="font-family: times new roman;">We have again have been lax in posting. I blame Miss Caitlin - she has been ill and very busy and she has quite hogged all the computer time.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Miss Caitlin's illness is thought to be linked to mold (or something else toxic) in her apartment. We have just returned from spending several days away, during which Miss Caitlin's health improved significantly. She has contacted her landlord and they are looking into the problem and possible solutions. Miss Caitlin fears that it may mean moving to another apartment. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">No word from Josey. Miss Caitlin suggests, and I concur, that this is likely due to the fact the CFJ and Josey are occupied with a variety of things, which may not include writing to us. Additionally, there is a major delay in mailing times between here and Greece. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Miss Caitlin has finished classes for the semester, and has a bit of a break for the next few weeks during which she is only working. Mrs. Caitlin's Mother will likely come down next week to help Miss Caitlin clean. Cleaning would probably mitigate Miss Caitlin's illness until further action can be taken. Or so Miss Caitlin hopes. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">The ants have not returned, though the spiders are moving back in. Miss Caitlin will be glad to finish cleaning, as the spiders are less likely to be a problem after a good cleaning. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165938461404393963.post-8454183652798474192009-03-26T12:00:00.003-06:002009-03-26T12:22:02.223-06:00Sping Break<span style="font-family: times new roman;">We have confirmed successful initiation of the Plan. I repeat, confirmed success. We have received word from Caitlin's Favorite Junior (hereafter referred to as CFJ) that Josey, acting as an agent on behalf of all animals who currently own Miss Caitlin, has arrived safely in Greece and is studying the area with CFJ. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">CFJ wrote us a letter, informing us that Josey had arrived in Athens, but that she had been a little jet lagged from the trip in the box. The week she arrived, she recovered while CFJ went to class, then CFJ took Josey on a short trip to </span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.google.com/search?q=Crete&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a">Crete</a><span style="font-family: times new roman;">, where it seems they visited several Minoan sites. CFJ writes that the site at Phaestos is very well preserved - I am rather jealous that Josey has the opportunity to visit such a historic site. CFJ reports that their next trip should be to Sparta. I am positive that more information will be forthcoming as CFJ has the chance to write. She had not found a place to let her upload her pictures, but she assures us that she did take some. Perhaps by the time Josie returns and can tell us all herself, the pictures will be available. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">In other news, I feel it is necessary to point out that this was not uploaded sooner because Miss Caitlin went to visit her family, took the computer, but did not take us. So we missed the opportunity to see Percy, the King, Dog, and all our other friends at Miss Caitlin's Mother and Father's house. She remembered to take the tax documents away from Tipsy so they would be packed, but she did not take us. Just to be clear. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Yesterday, to make things exciting, the kitchen was invaded from the outside. They were small. They were black. And they were all over the sink. Miss Caitlin's Mother thinks the ants were probably after water - which was odd since it had just rained. But so far there is no evidence that hte ants made it into any food. Miss Caitlin purchased some spray and traps, which have taken care of this wave of the invasion. Miss Caitlin fears that they have only momentarily retreated to regroup, and that they will assail us again. She encourages us all to constant vigilance. Meanwhile, the caustic odor of the spray lingers in kitchen. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165938461404393963.post-44824203035278878412009-03-08T17:57:00.003-06:002009-03-08T18:14:07.521-06:00So March<span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Hi. Tipsy here. This has been a strange weekend. On Friday, it was unofficial </span><a style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);" href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-talk-stpats-05-mar05,0,5700717.story">St. Patrick's Day.</a><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);"> Cat accidentally wore green. She said it was a bad choice, though only one person asked if she'd been drinking. Most people seemed to get it that she's a little too smart to start drinking at 8 a.m. on a day she has class and work (and game). She had to spend the whole day dodging green-clad drunk people. It was stupid, and everything smelled bad.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">It's been warm. Yay, we turned the heat way down. It's been raining lots. That's cool. It's nice spring rain. It's really windy. Like no kidding windy. It seems this rain and wind thing was too much for U of I. They have no power. That's right, </span><a style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);" href="http://media.www.dailyillini.com/media/storage/paper736/news/2009/03/06/News/Ui.Hopes.To.Have.Power.Restored.Before.Midnight-3664705.shtml">U of I has no power</a><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">. And here we thought the only time the U of I lost power was in the </span><a style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);" href="http://larp.illini-rp.net/">LARP</a><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">'s games.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">So Cat has no Tae Kwon Do, since the rec building is closed for the foreseeable future. This is sad because she is supposed to test for the next belt next weekend. But she has a lot of stuff to do and isn't feeling well, so it's sorta good she has a break.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Cat's gonna have people over to teach them </span><a style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euchre">Euchre</a><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);"> and other card games on Friday. It's like sharing family bonding with people who are not family. Cat has to clean before Friday though. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">No news on the Plan since its initial implementation. We hope to hear more soon. </span>Tipsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11424806047771981102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165938461404393963.post-28598918035106850872009-02-11T19:23:00.008-06:002009-02-11T20:00:37.131-06:00Oops.<span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">So, we didn't post in January. Cat is all better, though she is still relearning to breathe through her nose. She seems happy about her classes. She comes home from the Family's house this sort of blue color. Cat says she's helping the Family's Mom paint. I think she wants to be a Smurf.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">So Deirdre sent us some pictures. It seems she and Miss Adrien went to some other park-type places.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SZN7q9zliwI/AAAAAAAAAFE/A8GYKQk9Z2M/s1600-h/Deirdre+Yorktown+Battlefield.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SZN7q9zliwI/AAAAAAAAAFE/A8GYKQk9Z2M/s320/Deirdre+Yorktown+Battlefield.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301717164420860674" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">This is Deirdre on a morter at </span><a style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);" href="http://www.nps.gov/york/">Yorktown Battlefield.</a><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);"> There was a battle there. In the Civil War. That's all I got on that.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SZN7xYdiSNI/AAAAAAAAAFM/A7wKPblteDU/s1600-h/Deirdre+Jameston+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SZN7xYdiSNI/AAAAAAAAAFM/A7wKPblteDU/s320/Deirdre+Jameston+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301717274655344850" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Here she's at </span><a style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);" href="http://www.historyisfun.org/">Jamestown</a><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);"> - It seems like she really likes cannons. At least now she is sitting ON them instead of INSIDE it.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SZN723Tp-8I/AAAAAAAAAFU/a2d3YkgciXI/s1600-h/Deirdre+Jameston+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SZN723Tp-8I/AAAAAAAAAFU/a2d3YkgciXI/s320/Deirdre+Jameston+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301717368834751426" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">This is also Jamestown. It looks like a really old house. I don't have more info than that. But it's all good to see Deirdre and know that she is okay.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">So, in other news, Josie has been chosen to be in charge of a Plan. We roped Cat into the conspiracy; we needed some money and a car to make it work. Otherwise, we wouldn't bother because Cat's like no fun. How well the Plan succeeds depends on Cat's Favorite Junior. Hopefully, she will go along with The Plan. Here is Josey at the inception of our Plan.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SZOBnjE6SjI/AAAAAAAAAFc/lfWxH54bGbg/s1600-h/Josey%27s+Adventure+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SZOBnjE6SjI/AAAAAAAAAFc/lfWxH54bGbg/s320/Josey%27s+Adventure+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301723702775925298" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Josey, we're rooting for you. Plus, we'll be pissed if you mess up our sweet Plan. Just keep that in mind. Favorite Junior as well, if you don't go along with the plan, we'll be sad.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165938461404393963.post-64640579974740428272008-12-28T12:11:00.004-06:002008-12-28T12:27:26.296-06:00Miss Dierdre's Visit and Christmas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SVfBxfadBtI/AAAAAAAAAE8/5e6aIwBa4Tc/s1600-h/Dierdre%27s+Visit.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SVfBxfadBtI/AAAAAAAAAE8/5e6aIwBa4Tc/s320/Dierdre%27s+Visit.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284905743732770514" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Miss Dierdre came to visit us, arriving late in the evening of the 22nd, and leaving the morning of the 24th. Due to inclement weather, she estimated that she spent as much time in transportation as she actually did in visitation. While this was unfortunate, it was better than not being able to see my dear friend at all, as we have not been together since Miss Caitlin and Miss Adrien graduated from college. This was a sad situation without remedy except such as the two ladies devised. Since the weather was poorly, Miss Caitlin and Miss Adrien spent most of the time inside, playing games with Miss Caitlin's Bother and watching a particularly terrible Japanese drama.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">After Miss Adrien and Miss Dierdre left, Mr. Caitlin's Father arrived. On Christmas morning, it was found that a most unwelcome guest had stowed away with him on the way down and hidden herself in Miss Caitlin's stocking - that devious Sheepy. A picture will not be provided as she is not worth it. She has, however, been behaving since arriving. She will depart when Miss Caitlin goes north to visit her grandparents next week and observe the work on the family house. She will not return.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Miss Caitlin has her splints removed tomorrow. She will be immensely relieved, as will everyone else. Their lingering presence has her predispositioned toward crabbiness. It does not help that she is rather stuffy but can do nothing about it. She feels that she will be much more cheerful after they are removed tomorrow. Hopefully, it will be the first day in the rest of her life of easy breathing.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165938461404393963.post-90204856743178065022008-12-19T08:26:00.003-06:002008-12-19T08:34:42.123-06:00Surgery<span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Cat is doing ok. The doctor and the nurses said that she did a good job and that everything went well. She came home and after napping she watched </span><a style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112701/">Cold Comfort Farm</a><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">. It's a movie set in the 30's about a girl who moves in with some strange relatives and makes their lives better. She borrowed a lot of movies from her mom and dad. That was one of them. She'll probably watch more movies today.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Yesterday was not so much fun. The pain medicine made Cat throw up lots. She couldn't have any more. It's okay because she says it doesn't hurt so much that she needs the big pain medication. She has Tylenol instead. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">She doesn't feel that bad and wants everyone to know that she's doing ok. Still, I'm not going to sunggle with her. Comfort does that, and she'll probably have to get a bath because Cat spills stuff on her. I don't want a bath. I'll watch her from over here.</span>Tipsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11424806047771981102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165938461404393963.post-53078231716448468792008-12-15T00:18:00.013-06:002008-12-15T00:59:58.860-06:00Pictures and News<span style="font-family: times new roman;">I have a plethora of pictures to share with you tonight. First, I would like to note that Miss Dierdre has voiced no displeasure toward me. Quite to the contrary, it is my understanding that she is coming to visit me. The agreeable Miss Adrien will accompany Miss Dierdre in visiting Miss Caitlin as she recovers from her surgery next week. I will first share, then, in honor of their upcoming visit, the remainder of the pictures Miss Dierdre has sent to me to display.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: times new roman;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SUX4Nv9BfDI/AAAAAAAAADs/2-Z8P6CndHA/s1600-h/Ais+and+Dierdre.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 123px; height: 166px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SUX4Nv9BfDI/AAAAAAAAADs/2-Z8P6CndHA/s320/Ais+and+Dierdre.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279899053256178738" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: times new roman;">This delightful picture of Miss Adrien and Miss Dierdre was taken at a reenactment that they participated in a few weeks ago. One of Miss Adrien's acquaintances is a skilled seamstress who has a daughter who would often accompanies them to reenactments. It was found that a few of said daughter's dresses could be modified to fit Miss Adrien, so that she could participate until she learned to sew well enough to construct a dress herself. Miss Adrien also attended a ball for the occasion, for which outing she looked quite splendid.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: times new roman;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SUX4UlclI_I/AAAAAAAAAD0/jKOQOiHfVTM/s1600-h/Dierdre+Picnic.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 166px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SUX4UlclI_I/AAAAAAAAAD0/jKOQOiHfVTM/s320/Dierdre+Picnic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279899170694833138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Here Miss Dierdre relaxes at the reenactment while looking after miss Adrien's things.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: times new roman;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SUX69jw-c_I/AAAAAAAAAEc/089H16lT240/s1600-h/Dierdre+Mantel+Decorations.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SUX69jw-c_I/AAAAAAAAAEc/089H16lT240/s320/Dierdre+Mantel+Decorations.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279902073641399282" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">This picture and the next are of Deirdre and the decorations at Miss Adrien's friends' house. Can you find her in the mantel picture? She's so clever. . .</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: times new roman;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SUX7D9mkFXI/AAAAAAAAAEk/rZpwY9YIKqQ/s1600-h/Dierdre+Candle+Fire.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SUX7D9mkFXI/AAAAAAAAAEk/rZpwY9YIKqQ/s320/Dierdre+Candle+Fire.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279902183656265074" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Dierdre seems to find slightly dangerous places to sit . . . I do not encourage such behavior. I hope her good sense will return when she returns to the North . . .</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">And now to our own pictures. Miss Caitlin has completed her Christmas decorations as best she can. She will be hosting Christmas - or rather, Christmas will be at our house while she hopefully recovers well from her surgery.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: times new roman;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SUX5sSgCqiI/AAAAAAAAAD8/4WElypN9I7Q/s1600-h/Cat%27s+Tree+08.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SUX5sSgCqiI/AAAAAAAAAD8/4WElypN9I7Q/s320/Cat%27s+Tree+08.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279900677437565474" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">This is Miss Caitlin's tree. Her grandparents kindly gave her the tree. She had to scrounge the sales to purchase ornaments. They are rather plain, but she will hopefully switch them out with more interesting ornaments in the years to come.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: times new roman;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SUX8RGfCmNI/AAAAAAAAAE0/77sHBOdf3Qw/s1600-h/The+Gang+08.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SUX8RGfCmNI/AAAAAAAAAE0/77sHBOdf3Qw/s320/The+Gang+08.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279903508890556626" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Here we are, under Miss Caitlin's tree. Sheela and Clem decided to join Tipsy, Josey, and I and we lounged on the few gifts that Miss Caitlin has in hand to wrap.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: times new roman;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SUX56zqeULI/AAAAAAAAAEE/SQQ9z_vnvac/s1600-h/Our+Tree+08.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SUX56zqeULI/AAAAAAAAAEE/SQQ9z_vnvac/s320/Our+Tree+08.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279900926857859250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Here the blogging staff is under our tree. Miss Caitlin and Miss Caitlin's Bother kindly put it up for us. It was in the kitchen, but Miss Caitlin and her Bother agreed it was better in the family room by the mantel. The mantel is decorated as well, but the display will not be finished until Mrs. Caitlin's Mother brings the stockings down.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: times new roman;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SUX6RIoDgKI/AAAAAAAAAEU/DZOfj41Wx8A/s1600-h/X-mas+Cabbage+Patch+08.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SUX6RIoDgKI/AAAAAAAAAEU/DZOfj41Wx8A/s320/X-mas+Cabbage+Patch+08.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279901310441980066" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Here is Clem and the irrepressible Cabbage Patch Kids, all decked out for the holidays. Miss Caitlin finished their outfits over Thanksgiving. Personally, I find Master Shawn's shirt to be particularly grotesque, even as far as holiday wear goes, but he seem rather ecstatic about the seasonal addition to his wardrobe. Miss Comfort pulls of the look with a little more panache. Her blouse in particular is almost tasteful. Miss Caitlin is exceptionally proud of the stitching that makes up the blouse. Miss Comfort was less pleased with the bloomers that Miss Caitlin added to the outfit, but she has been mollified by repeated iterations of the opinion that the bloomers look much better than the leggings that the pattern calls for. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Now, for people still concerned about Miss Caitlin's surgery (and have bothered to read this far), Miss Caitlin located </span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://american-rhinologic.org/patientinfo.septoplasty.phtml">this article</a><span style="font-family: times new roman;"> which better describes the procedures she is having done. Both aspects of the procedure are being done, in addition to any draining of the sinuses that might prove necessary. Miss Caitlin will be fitted with splints that will have to be rinsed often to ensure a speedy recovery. She will have the procedure done on the 17th and the splints will be removed on the 29th. That will hopefully mark the end of her recovery. Miss Caitlin looks forward to breathing much easier come January. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">I hope to keep you updated on the recovery process, but holiday greetings to all in the mean time.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165938461404393963.post-62436958293154534432008-11-14T11:52:00.007-06:002008-11-14T12:10:51.528-06:00I Can't Believe Snibbly Forgot<span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">After being all angsty about the election, Snibbly totally didn't talk about it. He and Cat were real nervous. Cat called her parents and Gabe-Poli-Sci-Man and they all were like, it'll be over when California is called, chill. But still Cat was so relieved when they announced it that she burst into tears. Very silly. I mean, of course that Obama guy was going to win. It'd be the least he could do after Cat and Snibbly went through all the trouble to go see him and everything. That'd just be ungrateful!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">You know what else Snibbly forgot about? (he's going to be in trouble!) He forgot we got pictures from Deirdre. She's at </span><a style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);" href="http://www.nps.gov/fosu/">Fort Sumter</a><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);"> with Miss Adrien and we miss her lots.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/SR29AsWvgVI/AAAAAAAAAGY/-A8r08uPbvQ/s1600-h/Deirdre+in+Canon.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/SR29AsWvgVI/AAAAAAAAAGY/-A8r08uPbvQ/s320/Deirdre+in+Canon.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268574958697546066" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">I'm not so sure that Fort Sumter is a safe place for her to be . . . (watch out Deirdre!)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/SR29T6mJ2_I/AAAAAAAAAGg/1gSfeikrD_w/s1600-h/Deirdre+in+the+Fort.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/SR29T6mJ2_I/AAAAAAAAAGg/1gSfeikrD_w/s320/Deirdre+in+the+Fort.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268575288937798642" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">I mean this looks like moref fun. Maybe a little like that castle place we got to play in at Greece.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/SR29uXkQ-DI/AAAAAAAAAGo/hHAypeTTSHc/s1600-h/Deirdre+by+More+Canons.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/SR29uXkQ-DI/AAAAAAAAAGo/hHAypeTTSHc/s320/Deirdre+by+More+Canons.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268575743391103026" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Okay, so maybe it's okay-fun, but I think it would be more fun if she got to see us all the time. Like we used to. She's probably really lonely . . . I'm not sure the farm animals in South Carolina are as nice as here. I bet they say things like "Bless her heart . . ." And they might seem nice, but when she's not there, I bet they say not nice things. And Deirdre doesn't have friends there to stick up for her when she's not around, or at least tell Deirdre what the other animals said . . . Come back to civilization soon, Deirdre! And don't tell anyone "Bless her heart!"</span>Tipsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11424806047771981102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165938461404393963.post-90326487373552886862008-11-07T17:38:00.006-06:002008-11-07T17:59:00.370-06:00Apologies, yet again<span style="font-family: times new roman;">We have been most remiss in our blogging duties. I can only beg forgiveness - Miss Caitlin often takes her computer with her to class these days, limiting time available on it. She was also recently ill, which threw another set of complications in the way.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">She has recovered, more or less, now. While she was ill, she took to reading juvenile literature, to better familiarize herself with the literature of her chosen profession. Most of the books were enjoyable enough, but largely superficial. One series, however, impressed me greatly. Author Kate Dicamillo and illustrator Chris Van Dusen need to be congratulated on creating such a </span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.katedicamillo.com/books/mercy1.html">delightful series</a><span style="font-family: times new roman;">, one that, in fact, all children should read. The heroine of their series is a fine sow named Mercy Watson, who is treated properly by her humans and manages to save the day in every book. This series is important because it exposes children to the nobility of the porcine species - it also teaches children that very important word - porcine. Miss Caitlin and I recomend it to first and second graders, noting that it can make an excellent read aloud book for younger children.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">I fear there is little to tell in other news. Miss Caitlin in entrenched in looking into the consruction of </span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/tags/tags.cfm">youth advisory boards</a><span style="font-family: times new roman;"> in public libraries. She is also looking into how libraries can make e-books available to their patrons without bending copyright laws too far. In general, she expects November to be very busy with school work, and December to be very busy with preparation for, going through, and recovering from her up coming </span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/SinusSurgery.cfm">sinus surgery</a><span style="font-family: times new roman;">. Tipsy and myself will attempt to keep you updated.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165938461404393963.post-67299999312206799472008-09-27T13:53:00.009-06:002008-09-27T14:35:29.291-06:00The Obama Rally, a Month Later<span style="font-family: times new roman;">Miss Caitlin has left me little time to update our blog. She most unfairly whisks it away with her to classes and then monopolizes it when she is home. In addition, it has been a busy month for us. Miss Adrien had previously secured for us a goat, who has accepted the name Sheela.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SN6T_Qe_6vI/AAAAAAAAABY/nq1QrjESAFc/s1600-h/The+crowd.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SN6T_Qe_6vI/AAAAAAAAABY/nq1QrjESAFc/s320/The+crowd.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250796930526604018" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">You may also notice the presence of Hamlet the Elder - he was sent as a representation of the Lord King Reggie to Miss Caitlin's bother's surgery (his tonsillectomy). Having been brought by Mrs. Caitlin's Mother, the good pig Hamlet was also left by her. He is stranded here until Miss Caitlin visits her family next month.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">Miss Caitlin finally has access to the pictures Miss Caitlin's bother's girlfriend took at the Obama Rally. Miss Caitlin has some pictures of her own, but her camera was distressed by the heat like the rest of us and had ceased working by the time the Senator actually came out.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SN6UmddX_mI/AAAAAAAAABg/PLXyPSCDOmw/s1600-h/A+bit+of+the+line.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SN6UmddX_mI/AAAAAAAAABg/PLXyPSCDOmw/s320/A+bit+of+the+line.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250797604024352354" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">This is a picture of some of the line that we had to endure. It moved fairly quickly and an amusing array of street vendors provided some interest.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SN6V5CK5kfI/AAAAAAAAABw/v1X46I9-VVE/s1600-h/Obama+Rally1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SN6V5CK5kfI/AAAAAAAAABw/v1X46I9-VVE/s320/Obama+Rally1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250799022628246002" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">This one is of Miss Caitlin and me in line. It was taken by Miss Jess (Miss Caitlin's bother's girlfriend). This was before she bought her hat - one of the vendors sold white baseball caps with the Obama logo on it. Miss Caitlin considered this to be a fortuitous purchase later.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SN6VHTZj4RI/AAAAAAAAABo/TmZvbKjHFJk/s1600-h/The+Old+Captiol+Building.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SN6VHTZj4RI/AAAAAAAAABo/TmZvbKjHFJk/s320/The+Old+Captiol+Building.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250798168259682578" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">This is me by the old capitol building, in front of which the rally took place. We were situated off to stage left, so would have appeared on the far right in any footage of the speech.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SN6Wg-2MtUI/AAAAAAAAAB4/3L1pmQ-Xb-s/s1600-h/Obama+Rally3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SN6Wg-2MtUI/AAAAAAAAAB4/3L1pmQ-Xb-s/s320/Obama+Rally3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250799708930880834" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">This crowd shot, taken again by Miss Jess, gives you an idea of what we were in for. It was dreadfully hot and the press of people made matters much worse. There was also not enough water for the amount of people who were there. Bad planning on the Obama people's part.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SN6XTSuznjI/AAAAAAAAACA/YcBAWxEdMpY/s1600-h/Obama+Rally2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eTin8fNc3SM/SN6XTSuznjI/AAAAAAAAACA/YcBAWxEdMpY/s320/Obama+Rally2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250800573262044722" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">But the waiting was worth it, and we were privileged enough to see both Obama and Biden speak. Here is a nice shot of Obama - he entered from our side, so Miss Jess had few decent pictures, but it was hard to see the podium and the other entrance from where we were standing. Unfortunately, we did not get as good of pictures of the vice presidential candidate.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">I heatily recommend that everyone make the effort to attend a political rally for the political candidate of their choice at least once in their lifetime. Miss Caitlin thoroughly enjoyed it, even though she got terribly sunburned.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165938461404393963.post-22085261401470858772008-09-02T09:53:00.004-06:002008-09-02T10:02:05.189-06:00In Class<span style="font-family: times new roman;">Miss Caitlin is in class right now. She is learning how to use </span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.seamonkey-project.org/releases/">SeaMonkey</a><span style="font-family: times new roman;">, which is a free text editing program that is put out by the same people as Firefox. Actually, it is a lot more than a text editor, but that is all they are using it for in class. The class is basic web design, using this WYSIWYG editor. Miss Caitlin got bored and started practicing in the HTML code section. But the editor makes things a little easier.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: times new roman;">I have some interesting things to say about Springfield and Obama from two weekends ago. Never fear, I will report about it, but Miss Caitlin has yet to get the pictures from Miss Caitlin's bother's girlfriend who went with us. After that has occurred, I will, of course, say more.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8165938461404393963.post-47401132319126442732008-08-22T20:39:00.001-06:002008-08-22T21:19:22.184-06:00University, Take 2: Don't Throw Shade on the Corn<span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Cat finally got around to taking us with her to University to see where she's going to go to work and school. First we had to sit through this long talk about campus resources and then all these people introducing themselves and babbling about "community informatics," youth services, and the designs of library buildings . . . it wasn't very interesting at all, but Cat was pretty excited about the free pizza involved.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Then Cat took us around campus. First stop was to show us where she works.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/SK95zlMDsuI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/uOXgGxBI_DE/s1600-h/Undergrad+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/SK95zlMDsuI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/uOXgGxBI_DE/s320/Undergrad+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237538818718151394" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">I'm not kidding. This is it. But where's the library? It's there, can you find it?</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/SK96NP_07ZI/AAAAAAAAAEY/jArk831t9To/s1600-h/Undergrad+Courtyard.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/SK96NP_07ZI/AAAAAAAAAEY/jArk831t9To/s320/Undergrad+Courtyard.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237539259706305938" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Here it is! It's underground! Basically the roof is at street level (actually about three steps up) and so this is a shot from above into the courtyard. What does this mean exactly? It means Cat works in a pit! AHAHAHAHAHA!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Even funnier than that is why the undergad library is underground. In 1969, when the library was going to be built, two things drove the undergrad underground. One reason was to keep the quad from feeling entirely enclosed. I guess they didn't think that would be pretty. But - horror of horror - if they built anything there above ground, it would throw shade on the corn.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">CORN?!?! Yeah, corn. Here it is. With us.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/SK98ZF-J80I/AAAAAAAAAEg/62hUWuZvoU8/s1600-h/Marrow+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/SK98ZF-J80I/AAAAAAAAAEg/62hUWuZvoU8/s320/Marrow+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237541662196626242" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">There's actually soybeans there now too. So it's not just corn. Anyway, why is there corn on the freakin' quad, and why does that mean that Cat has to work underground? The corn, called the </span><a style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);" href="http://agronomyday.cropsci.uiuc.edu/2001/morrow-plots/">Morrow Plots</a><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">, are like a really old field where they've been doing experiments on what makes corn grow well for like a really long time. So building a building that blocks out the sun half the day for the corn isn't a good way to tell if the corn is growing well. So they made the undergrad into a pit . . .</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Here's another shot - this one is from the other direction with the undergrad entrance in the background. Beyond that is the main library where there are apparently a lot of books. I'm not kidding, like 7 plus stories of books.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/SK997vjQIzI/AAAAAAAAAEo/YSjFpUF5vU4/s1600-h/Marrow+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/SK997vjQIzI/AAAAAAAAAEo/YSjFpUF5vU4/s320/Marrow+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237543356985254706" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">That was fun. Then we called Cat's bother and he suggested that we get our picture taken at the </span><a style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);" href="http://www.kcpa.uiuc.edu/">Krannert Center for Performing Arts</a><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">. Cat went there to see a play last year, and she says it's a really cool place. Kinda like heaven for theater techies. Cat knows a girl that is going to work there. Anyway, here's the picture.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/SK9-tlNzrfI/AAAAAAAAAEw/h5KSx5MmeYA/s1600-h/Krannert.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/SK9-tlNzrfI/AAAAAAAAAEw/h5KSx5MmeYA/s320/Krannert.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237544213204413938" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">The amphitheater is mostly there for show, though I guess sometimes groups do small things on it. Behind there is the music performance hall, which Snibbly tells me has almost perfect acoustics.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">The last place we got our picture taken was at the </span><a style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);" href="http://uitours.ncsa.uiuc.edu/landmarks/almamater/">Alma Mater</a><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);"> statue by the Union. It's sorta like a "Where's Waldo" to find us. Cat said she wasn't going to lie on the ground to take this picture in such a busy place. (Lame). She did let us sit on her ibook though. It's plastic coated, so we didn't have to get wet, since there was still water on the statue from the rain.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/SK-ANsiK8ZI/AAAAAAAAAE4/gE-Dc47h1G8/s1600-h/Alma+Matre.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_U6juuvItkJ4/SK-ANsiK8ZI/AAAAAAAAAE4/gE-Dc47h1G8/s320/Alma+Matre.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237545864436314514" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: arial; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">So that's just about it. Hope you like the pictures. By the way, all pictures are brought to you through the SD reader that Mr. and Mrs. Cat's Mom and Dad were nice enough to buy for us. Thanks Mr. and Mrs. Cat's Mom and Dad.</span>Tipsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11424806047771981102noreply@blogger.com2