Self-Reflection, Professional Development and Verbage

My graduate classes started up again last week.








Seriously - I'm stoked. I've got three classes this semester instead of my usual two, so I'm going to be busier than usual. But it's a good kind of busy.

My first assignment is a reflection of myself in the program so far. It's supposed to be kind of informal - no real page limit. It's billed as a chance for me to look at how far I've come and what I still want to learn. Which is nice to start off the semester with a little fluffy assignment - just to get myself back in the groove of working, but it's not enough to send my brain into over-fried-overdrive.

But... (yes, there's always a "but," coming, isn't there?)

When I start to actually writing this reflection, I can't help but get into the high-stilted, beat-around-the-bush, take-a-million-years-to-say-hello, writing style that I inevitably land in when I write for a class. I can be informal and relaxed on my blog - even with a SERIOUS BUSINESS topic - but sitting down to pen any kind of academic writing turns me into Wordy Wanda.

For example, this is an actual excerpt from the rough draft of my reflection:

"I find that kids who are good at academics, sports and/or arts get lots of recognition and encouragement for their talents, as well they should. But I’ve noticed that kids who have less-traditional talents, such as construction, welding, family-consumer sciences or other so-called vocational fields, get less encouragement – they may not see their interests as something practical in life."

Mmm 'kay - so, what I was trying to say is that there are kids with talents that almost always get recognized while there are kids with other talents that are just as good that sometimes get overlooked. Sort of like "You want to be a cook for a living? Why?" Part of what I want to do is encourage kids with those "secondary" talents to work at it and develop where their interests lie and never mind what chess club, piano lesson or dance class they're signed up for this week. But I can't say it like that in my academic writing because... I really don't know why.

I hate, hate, HATE when I want to just write one sentence or phrase and it turns into a long wordy piece of crap. One thing that I can't stand about writing business emails for my dad is that I think the people he's writing to must be idiots because he's had to tell them THE SAME STINKING THING at least three or four times, just with different wording. Good grief, how many different ways are there to spell "cat" before you realize he's talking about a small household pet that sheds all over the furniture but is still pretty good at catching mice? (that's a metaphor, JSYK) Personally, I just want to shoot them one line - "Can you please lend us this much money? Our credentials are attached. Many thank yous" - and be done with it (given, I left out the gratuitous butt-kissing these emails often include, which I'd be happy dispensing with altogether).

So, back to my writing assignment - I should just go back and rewrite it. I'm no where near being done, but what I have is crap. Make no mistake - the ideas are fine, it's the execution of the idea that sucks. At least I have until Friday to finish.

You Know What REALLY Ticks Me Off?

When you've got some psycho nut shooting people, six dead, 13 people on their way to the hospital (including a US Congresswoman) and not two hours later, the county sheriff is looking to blame someone other than the guy who pulled the trigger.

I expect this garbage from the goons in the media and some politicians, but not from a guy who was elected to uphold the laws that protect his constituents - and that includes those victimized in this senseless tragedy.  He ought to be working to bring the guilty individual to justice, not vainly speculating on what led to this event, especially when nobody - AND I MEAN NOBODY - has any of the facts.

One victim I see reported on a lot is the little girl, Christina Green.  Maybe it's her name (we like Christinas around here) or the fact that she's a very adorable little girl and her family talks about her being a go-getter and having a lot of goals for herself - but her death is the one that gets to me the most.  My heart goes out to her family and the families of the other victims.  She and the other victims did not deserve this and they sure as hell don't deserve to have their deaths be used as pawns in this stupid political game.  Get all the facts and convict the true guilty parties.  Let people grieve in peace.

I get upset and angry about a number of things, but violence never solves any problem and anyone that thinks that it will is crazy.  And while violence is probably the number one course of action that doesn't solve anything - blaming random people before you have all the facts comes in a close second.

Sheriff Dupnik owes Congresswoman Giffords' family, friends and staff - as well as the innocent victims and their families - an apology.  And he damn well better call a press conference to do it.

My New Pet Project

With a new year comes a new semester (more or less) and I've found something new to do that's going to take up the better part of my time and sanity (but it's all for a good cause).  The high school library has a shortage of shelving space.  I could invest in new shelves... but then I got looking at some of the books that are taking up all the space and the kids don't read them.  Actually, nobody reads them.  Ever.  Most people just request new titles and I buy them (hence, why I am looking for more shelf space).

In a somewhat unrelated twist, the librarian before me had begun weeding out old titles and taking them out of the system, but she didn't know what to do with all the old books.  She thought about a few things, including a book sale, but if people want to buy books, they can go get new ones from Barnes and Noble or Amazon.  So, we've got at least three huge boxes of old books in storage with no idea what to do with them (I say "at least three" - I think there are others stored elsewhere.  I haven't had time to go on an exhaustive search, but that's for tomorrow).

Here I come - bright-eyed and full of idealistic... ideas.  I haven't been able to implement very much (lack of money, lack of time, lack of people), but I did find an interesting place to take our old books.  One of my classmates in my graduate program has connections with the library at the state penitentiary and brought up Books Inside, a not-for-profit group that provides books to prison libraries.  Looking at their website, it looks like they don't really care what condition the books are in because the inmates can repair them and they're always looking for more books and things.

You can all see where this is going, can't you?

Pending district approval, all our old books are going to the prison.  On the surface, it seems like an odd place to take our stuff, but I have the feeling that most of these inmates are serious about paying their debt to society and they'll be better people when they get out.  Besides, they could probably do with some good books to pass the time while they're incarcerated (according to my classmate, the library is one of the most-used facilities in the prison).

Now - I have to finish the weeding process, de-catalog (is that even a word?) the old books, box them up and get them to the Books Inside people.  And I'll finally have room for the new stuff.  Everyone wins. :)

Happy Who Year!

Because this is too brilliant not to pass around:



Virtual New Year's cupcakes go to the first person who gets it.

(Swiped from here, who in turn swiped it from somewhere else - I told you it was too good not to share!)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Here's wishing everyone a happy and glorious 2011!!

Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol SQUEE Post

Note: I posted this on my LiveJournal on Christmas Day right after I watched the Doctor Who Christmas Special.  Today, however, I realized that I didn't post it here, which is a travesty on my part (may I be forgiven).  So, a few days late, but never a dollar short (well, I try not to be) - here is the first of what I hope to become a tradition - and not just at Christmas.

**begin post**

My nerves are frazzled - and that all came before 7:00.  All day - ALL DAY - our electricity was blinking on and off.  Our phone and our internet were down at random times.  We had to open presents this morning in the dark (though the sun came up toward the end of the process) and breakfast was cold cereal.  The power eventually came back on - then it blinked off and on at random intervals during the day.

Happy Christmas...





Not that I'm complaining - but when you have the DVR set to record "Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol" on BBC America at 7:00 pm, you sort of want it to, you know, WORK!

Well, it did.  Mostly.  The power blinked off for about five minutes in the middle, but it came right back on (luckily, some of what I missed was commercials) and I was able to enjoy the happiness and glee that is experiencing an episode of "Doctor Who" (somewhat) simultaneously with the rest of the world.  Below the are some of my initial "OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG!" responses.  None of these are very coherent - in fact, I'll be surprised if you see any semblance of proper English grammar (but there are spoilers - now, those you might actually figure out).

 **HELLO SWEETIE**YES, THERE ARE SPOILERS HERE**PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK**

Arthur Darvill's been upgraded to top billing in the opening credits - HECK YES!!!!

Fish flying through the clouds that like opera music - clouds that can only be controlled by the hands of a grumpy old miser - a crash-landing honeymoon flight - Welcome to Christmas, Steven Moffat!

(or should it be Welcome to Steven Moffat, Christmas!)

On a personal note for my viewing experience: the power blipped off right as the Doctor and the young Kazran were about to be eaten by a shark. Yeah - Santa Moff + Fritzing Power Grid = SPAZ!

The Doctor and Kazran visiting Abigail throughout the years - fez, scarf, bowties = aksghuiae aksdgh sakjdgh askjdgh asdsfdssdYES!!!!!!!!!!!

I was trying to catch something that might possibly hint at what the upcoming season would be about (example - "The Christmas Invasion" briefly introduced Torchwood, "The Runaway Bride" made mention of Mr. Saxon, I don't remember if "Voyage of the Damned" had anything to do with Series 4… though Grandpa Wilf was there - but if I remember correctly, Bernard Cribbins' inclusion in that season was a last-minute change due to unforeseen circumstances in casting) - but the only thing that I could peg as a useful hint to the new season was Rory taking a call from a certain "Marilyn."

Except… there was this line - "Things have to end, otherwise, how would things get started?" (something like that. I'm quoting from memory here). O_O O_O O_O O_O

(Have I mentioned I don't like it when DW makes mention of endings????) DX DX DX DX DX



Preview SQUEEage - "Stetsons are cool!" ^_^ Pirates!! (at least, I think they were pirates) - the Doctor taking over the Oval Office - tally marks on River AND Amy - Amy has to save the Doctor - and a lot of other stuff that I can't properly remember because there was so much and I'm going absolutely bonkers over it!!

(I just realized... I need some Matt Smith gifs... barring that - anything with Karen Gillan or Arthur Darvill or even Alex Kingston would work too...)

Now, I need to post this before something goes berserk again!

ETA: I finally got to rewatch this in it's entirety - meaning I caught the approx. 5 minutes I missed - and I must amend my earlier statement that the power blip didn't cause me to miss too much - I missed an entire plot point! The part I missed was the part where the Doctor "marries" Marilyn Monroe (or so we are led to believe) and Abigail and Kazran kiss and Kazran begins his descent into jaded-grumpy-"Life's-not-fair"-old-man.  Damn you, Mt. Wheeler Power!!! *shakes fist*

Post-Christmas Analysis

Happy Boxing Day everyone!  (hey, if my dad can call his sweatshirt a "jumper," then I can refer to Boxing Day).

It was an odd Christmas - but a good one.  The power was out yesterday morning, so we opened presents in the semi-darkness.  It came back on eventually, but it continued to blip on and off, much to our great annoyance.  Well, I guess since Mt. Wheeler Power are a bunch of jackwads during the rest of the year, it would follow that they would play the Grinch on Christmas too.

We got to talk to Mark, though it took twenty minutes and a trek in the snow to my cousins' to use the phone (Beehive Telephone Company got in the Grinch act as well this year).  Honestly, I can't wait until that kid is home.  Maybe it's just mission fatigue or the fact I haven't seen my brother in three-plus years.  It'll just be good to have our whole family together again.

Anyway - I did make a pretty good haul this year.  For Christmas, I got:

- A Felicity doll plus her Christmas outfit (I'm annoyed that the packaging called it her "Holiday" outfit.  Good grief - she celebrates Christmas in the book, you morons).

- The new Brad Paisley CD

- "Mockingjay" and "America by Heart"

- "Doctor Who" Seasons 3 and 4 on DVD (and "A Christmas Carol" aired on BBC America on Christmas Day - I count that as part of my gift haul, but it was a close call with the power blipping on and off).

- "The Nightmare Before Christmas" on DVD

- Some shirts from Old Navy and DownEast (plus a Colts shirt from Fanzz ^_^)

- Fuzzy socks

- Tall boots with flat heels (yay!!)

- Mark sent us all Argentina National Team soccer jerseys and authentic Gaucho slippers ($4 off the streets of Buenos Aires ^_^)

- An M&Ms dispenser made to look like a fortune teller - it has a little button you push and you get an answer to any question you ask.  Well, "yes or no" questions, anyway (think Magic 8 Ball)

- A quilter's kit complete with scissors, a rotary cutter and a new quilt pattern from Kathryn (it's pretty sweet)

- $50 Barnes and Noble gift card

- $40 from my grandparents

- Lotion and fancy hand sanitizer from Bath and Body Works

- Plus plenty of candy!

I love getting money for Christmas... but now I am somewhat presented with a dilemma.  See, I've been in the market for either a Kindle or a Nook.  I've been looking up reviews on both and trying to decide which one I want to get.  As far as I can tell, there's very little difference between the two other than a few small things that pretty much balance out the comparison.  The only thing I'd want it for would be to read books (I don't really need or want the audiobook capabilities).  I don't really need 3G service either, so I'd be looking at the Wi-Fi-only option.

I have downloaded some of the free Kindle books to my laptop, but the one book that I actually purchased never would download (I just found a free torrent for it and that worked, so I count that I paid for it).  If I got a Nook, I could use my gift card, plus the money from my grandparents and that would knock off about $90 from the final price.  But... I like the fact that Amazon keeps your books in your Kindle archive in case you lose them... but the Nook lets you back up your books on micro SD cards.  I'm a little wary of leaving things solely online because that means you're counting on the internet never, ever, ever crashing or going away.  And with the recent Delicious scare, I'd almost rather have a physical backup of my own (yes, I know that Yahoo didn't really shut down Delicious, but the chaos that ensued on the internet was deafening - so to speak).  But also, the Kindle can read PDFs and I use those a lot and it'd be cool to use that feature.

Anyway - those are my thoughts.  Does anyone out there have any insight into my conundrum?  Do you own either one of these eReaders?  What do you like or dislike about them?  Please chime in because I'd like some input from actual Nook and/or Kindle users before I make my final decision.

Tomorrow is Christmas - It's Practically Here

Our internet was out all day, which means I am woefully behind on all my internet stuff.  But, it's Christmas Eve and that meant that I actually got presents wrapped among other sundry things.

The cousins and I are caught up and ready for the Doctor Who Christmas Special tomorrow (squee!)  And there's presents and food and family and all that wonderful stuff that comes with the holidays, so this is pretty exciting!

There's not much else I want to say - except for you all to have a Merry Christmas!  And also - to post this video that I have already posted, but I want it up for today and tomorrow -

Best "Christmas Carol" EVER!!

I don't have a whole lot of time to post over Christmas, but I've located some fun Christmas videos, including some with songs from my favorite Christmas movie of all time - "A Muppet Christmas Carol"   And the music is great too) Enjoy and have a Merry Christmas!



Dear World: Michael Caine as Scrooge = AWESOME! Thank you for your time.



And if I didn't include this song, it wouldn't be Christmas:



Oh, and this is one I made as my gift to the internet:

Sorta Dropped the Ball...

Just to "dress up" my blog for Christmas (and because I like putting off-topic videos on my posts), here are Matt, Karen and Arthur with a fun little Christmas performance just for you all ^_^




Ever since Thursday Night Football started, my pick schedule's been all messed up.  So, I'm just going to skip that game and make picks for the rest of the week (but some quick commentary - I thought that the Niners would at least make an effort against the Chargers.  Good grief...)

New Orleans @ Baltimore - Saints

Arizona @ Carolina - Arizona (not because I like them, but because anyone who picks Carolina to win anything this year is an idiot)

Cleveland @ Cincinnati - Cleveland

Washington @ Dallas - I really don't know about this... I mean, McNabb's not exactly the greatest thing since sliced bread, but Rex Grossman is... well, Rex Grossman.  Well... I guess I'll go with Washington anyway (stranger things have happened)

Jacksonville @ Indianapolis - Okay, I'm crossing my little fangirl fingers here... a win can only help Indy, so please, please, please, PLEASE football gods let the Colts win!

Buffalo @ Miami - Miami

Philadelphia @ NY Giants - Giants (please???)

Kansas City @ St. Louis - Kansas City

Detroit @ Tampa Bay - Tampa Bay

Houston @ Tennessee - murgh... oh fine - Houston

Atlanta @ Seattle - Atlanta

Denver @ Oakland - I want to say Oakland, but I think Denver is going to be all about paying back for that 59-14 loss back in October... but then I see that Oakland actually has a better record than Denver... but then I remember that it's not about records at all... but then I remember I have a nickel in my pocket and I can flip for my pick! *flips coin* Tails - Oakland

NY Jets @ Pittsburgh - If anything, this past year has proven that the Jets are the new Cincinnati Divalicious weirdo team and it's coming back to bite them in the butt *cackles evilly*  Pittsburgh

Green Bay @ New England - Dear heaven above - PACKERS!

Chicago @ Minnesota - Chicago

Now I Know We're Related

Anyone who knows my sister and I knows how vastly different we are.  I think it's a form of subconscious rebellion we've undertaken against our parents who insisted on dressing us alike when we were little.  There is a picture of us both in these frilly red dresses going to church (a sad, sad relic that serves to remind us of the fashion horrors committed in the '80s).  Even more distressing is the memory I have of at least three people coming up to us during church as asking us if we were twins (even though these people knew our family and knew full well that my sister and I are two years apart in age thankyouverymuch).

However, now that we are older, we have developed our own interests that rarely (if ever) cross paths.  Even with one interest we have in common - cheering for University of Utah football - we don't participate in together.  This past Thanksgiving, for example, I went in one room to watch the Utah-byu game.  My sister was sitting in the room as well and asked me (rather pointedly) where I was going to be watching the game.  I shrugged, sat down said "In here."  She promptly got up and walked in the other TV room, citing that she cannot watch football games with me - I make her too nervous.  After she and my other sister left, my dad (who had been witness to this entire exchange and knows perfectly well how we sisters are) started laughing.  All I can say is thank heaven for multiple DirecTV receivers in the house.

I'm not upset about this at all.  Far from it - I've actually gotten some pretty funny stories out of encounters with my sister.  Siblings have every right and reason to be their own individual people.  Why would you want to be attached at the hip with your brothers and sisters for the rest of your life?  But we are so different that I have had people express surprise when they find out that she is my sister. 

This brings me to my point in writing this.  In the course of announcing that she and my brother-in-law are expecting, my sister posted to her blog one of the funniest versions of someone announcing their pregnancy I've encountered online.  Her post also serves the dual purpose of confirming to me that my sister and I indeed share common DNA because I agree with her wholeheartedly.

Holy. Crap.

I really have nothing to say about this - I just think it's unreal and deserves to be shared far and wide.



It's like The Greater Cosmos(tm) saying: "Just when you thought the NFL season couldn't get any weirder - here's a stadium roof collapsing!  And make sure you catch it on camera!"

(Just for the record - it was nice and sunny out here in Utah.  I didn't even need my coat today.  Neener, neener).

The weirdest thing is last night I had a dream I was on the Titanic while it was sinking (it's a dream - just go with me, here) and it was making that same noise (I also remember floating underwater and thinking that James Cameron's CGI work was a bunch of crap.  Oh, how I love my subconscious).

The Strangest Post I've Ever Posted

I'm leading off with my football picks and then I'll go on with some other important stuff

Colts @ Titans - Listen up, Colts - I have picked you since the beginning of the season and here my loyalty is rewarded with a pitiful 6-6 record and we're playing for a freaking WILD CARD SPOT???  DOUBLE-YOU-TEE-EFF??? whyyyyyyyyyy?  ...sigh... I guess I shouldn't abandon my boys now - but I'm afraid that I'm just bad luck.  Oh, what the heck - Colts.

Browns @ Bills - Poody.  Just... poody.  Browns

Falcons @ Panthers - Are you kidding me?  This matchup isn't even fair - Falcons.

Packers @ Lions - Packers

Raiders @ Jaguars - Jaguars

Giants @ Vikings - Giants, Giants, GIANTS!!! (ftw)

Bengals @ Steelers - Steelers

Buccaneers @ Redskins - As much as I want the 'Skins to win... I think the Bucs are better (renaissance year in Washington notwithstanding).

Rams @ Saints - Saints

Seahawks @ 49ers - Neither are that good, but I like the Niners

Broncos @ Cardinals - What is this, making me pick between Bad or Worse? (and I'm not sure which is which).  Broncos

Patriots @ Bears - the Bears are good... but the Patriots are better (darn it).  Excuse me whilst I vomit - and select the Patriots (now watch, this'll be the the week they choke)

Dolphins @ Jets - Jets

Chiefs @ Chargers - KC

Eagles @ Dallas - Dallas is even further on my poop-list from last week's Colts-beating shenanigans and I choose the Eagles

Ravens @ Texans - Ravens

Tomorrow is our play and I'm really excited for it.  I'm nervous, to be sure, but I'm also excited.  The kids are ready to rock and roll and I'm ready for... something big to go down.  I've just had a lot of fun doing this.  I almost want to do another play in the spring (almost).

And - for something completely different - I've been reading the "Mark Reads" blog, where this guy named Mark reads books chapter-by-chapter and he reviews them.  Currently, he's reading "The Hunger Games," (which I loved and am on my second read-through) and he's read all of "Harry Potter" and "Twilight."  I'm reading through his thoughts on HP - I tried to read the "Twilight" ones, but there was too much WTF-ery for me to process (and some of his anti-LDS sentiments sent me seething.  It was better to avoid it altogether).  I do love reading his thoughts as he read HP because it reminded me of the absolute joy and giddiness that I experienced when I read all the HP books for the first time.  I am a big enough person I can set aside larger differences (religion, politics, etc.) for the pure love of fandom (what can I say - I hold out hope that there is somewhere in this world that people can get over these ticky-tack differences and find something - however small and/or seemingly insignificant - that they can agree on).

However, some comments in the blog (and some lines from Mark himself) brought up some questions of morality and sexuality (don't ask me how these things happen - the internet practically invented random tangents) and that got me pondering about my own thoughts on the topic.  Sort of an odd thing for me to be musing over (if you know me, you probably know that this is something I've never been comfortable with discussing - that's just how I roll), but I've run into some articles about how sexuality is viewed in society - whether it's from a religious or secular standpoint - and I've become fascinated by what others have said.  I'm not about to change my opinion on the subject (unless something earth-shattering happens, but how earth-shattering is another topic), but I do like learning about what other people think and why they think that.  It's something I'd like to expound upon for myself, but not in a way you might expect.  I've got to think it over, though, so give me a while.

(Wow - that was the weirdest post I've ever written - everything from football to sex... And... I'm going to leave it at that...)

NFL Picks - Lucky 13

And we welcome you to Week 13!  Roll on with the picks -

Houston @ Philly - I flipped a coin and it said Houston... but my first instinct was to go with the Eagles, and I typically like my first instinct, so that's what I'm going with.

Buffalo @ Minnesota - Minnesota

Cleveland @ Miami - Miami

Jacksonville @ Tennessee - If Tennessee wins, that helps the Colts.  But I don't think it'll happen (darn it).  Sigh... Jaguars (but come on Titans!)

New Orleans @ Cincinnati - New Orleans

Denver @ Kansas City - KC

Washington @ New York Giants - Giants

Chicago @ Detroit - Chicago

San Francisco @ Green Bay - Green Bay (it was so sad watching Monday Night Football last week and the commentators make all kinds of jokes at the NFC West's expense... wish they would pick it up...)

Oakland @ San Diego - My pick is San Diego, but due to the outcome of a certain game last week that I can think of, I will be cheering for Oakland (I really don't like the Chargers.  They aren't yet to the level I hate Dallas or New England, but they're making a case for it).

Atlanta @ Tampa Bay - Ooooh... this should be an unusually good one. The Falcons are hot, so I'm going with them.

Dallas @ Indianapolis - I have long since resigned myself to the fact that this is just not Indy's year.  However, that does not mean I'm going to abandon them now, and especially NOT against Dallas.  Colts by 7.

St. Louis @ Arizona - It will be a cold day in hell when I throw my chips in for a team that has max hall on it - even if he's just a backup (watch... he'll get traded to someone I like in the off-season - just watch).  St. Louis.

Carolina @ Seattle - Seattle

Pittsburgh @ Baltimore - Another one that promises to be a barn-burner.  But I like the Steelers, so I will go with them.

New York Jets @ New England - The lesser of two evils: Jets.

Current Standings - Last week's results garnered 12-4 (though, I happily relinquish any points because of a Rams win).  Record-to-Date: 78-41

Now, off to finish my final LI843 project.  I need to come up with something interesting and fun about fonts and typography in web design.  Seeing as I'm a bit of a newspaper/yearbook layout junkie, you'd think this would be right up my alley.  HA!  And again, I say - HA HA!  It's converting that information into a decent-ish website that's the problem.  Well... I guess I'd better get started...

It Must Be Christmas...

...because, apparently, every girl on the freaking planet wants diamond jewelry (according to Monday Night Football advertising, anyway).  Personally, I don't know what the heck is the big deal with diamonds - beyond that they're stinking expensive and sparkle like Edward Cullen.  I can see the big hoopla if a guy is asking a girl to marry him, but last I checked, a guy traditionally gives a girl a diamond engagement ring.  Not a necklace or earrings (but what do I know?)

Speaking totally for myself, if I had a significant other (pffft... riiiiiiight...) and he was going to spend money on me, I'd rather he take the money and buy me something of real value.  Like a Wii.

Win or Lose...

... I take consolation in the fact that I will never have to suffer through another Utes game called by the Orem Community College Remedial Sports Broadcasting class.

(For those lacking a sense of humor, I know there's no Orem Community College.  It was a joke.  Sort of like the Utes' passing game of late.  C'mon boys - pick it up in the second half!)

Happy Turkey Day! (and NFL Picks)

First of all - do you know how hard it is to find celebratory videos that are purely for Thanksgiving?  Not that I'm complaining - because I love this old classic:



(originally from here, but I like embedding videos, so YouTube it is!  Except when they block stuff I make).

ANYWAY... another grand Thanksgiving tradition at our house is football and this year is no exception.  There's the traditional Lions getting their butts kicked games on Thanksgiving, plus the end-of-season Utah-byu rivalry game on Saturday.  Say what you will about it - that's how our family rolls ^_^

So - onto the picks!

New England @ Detroit - Tradition dictates that the Lions play someone we absolutely hate on Thanksgiving.  This year will make for bloody interesting conversation because little cousin Johnny loves the Patriots, but nobody else in my family does.  And Johnny is a cocky little twerp when he wins (though I do have to give him credit for not being a punk last Sunday over the Pats-Colts game).  So, my prediction is that New England will win and Johnny won't make it to the pumpkin pie.

New Orleans @ Dallas - Tradition usually dictates that Dallas (who we also hate) plays some little cream puff team, orchestrates a blowout and further ruins any joy we otherwise would have.  However, Dallas has become the cream puff this year and New Orleans is the defending Super Bowl Champs.  It is with much joy and happiness that I call it a win for the Saints.

Cincinnati @ New York Jets - A fairly new tradition - a third Thanksgiving Day game in prime time.  Sadly, it's two teams that I'm not particularly fond of, so I really don't care (I'll probably be in a turkey coma by then anyway).  Even so, I pick the Jets.

Green Bay @ Atlanta - Back to the regular Sunday format... Green Bay

Pittsburgh @ Buffalo - Steelers

Carolina @ Cleveland - Browns

Titans @ Texans - mmm.... Texans

Jacksonville @ New York Giants - The Giants need some good juju, so I send some post-Thanksgiving Day good feelings in their direction.

Minnesota @ Washington - Now that the Vikings' coach has been replaced, will they pull out a win?  Mm... probably not.  Redskins.

Miami @ Oakland - Oakland has been doing better... but I'm going with Miami.

Kansas City @ Seattle - I've been silently cheering on the Chiefs in this renaissance year and I think that will continue.

Tampa Bay @ Baltimore - Ravens

Philadelphia @ Chicago - Eagles

St. Louis @ Denver - Feh... Broncos

San Diego @ Indianapolis - I predict Philip Rivers will channel his inner fanboy and crap out again as the Colts look to vent some frustration over that stupid loss to New England (Please note: fanboys don't like it when the status quo in their fandoms is upset).  Colts.

San Francisco @ Arizona - Man, how did Monday Night Football get such crap-fests this year?  Sigh... I can never in good faith cheer for a team with classless max hall and certainly not after Rivalry Week.  Niners.

Current Standings - Last week's result was a rather impressive 13-3, which bring my current totals to 66-37.

Ooh, Risotto, Risotto, Risotto!

The Schwan man is coming out today, so I was compiling my "shopping" list for when he gets here (plus, my mom wanted me to get a few things for this weekend).  Anyone who knows me knows that I hate cooking and I avoid it if at all possible.  It's not like I can't cook or that I won't cook, there are just other things I'd like to do with my time (and all that work for something that's going to be gone in 30 minutes anyway?  No thank you).  I usually just buy things that I can heat up in the microwave in two minutes and life is great.

However, I've decided that I'm sick of just eating microwave corn dogs and I'd like some variety in my diet.  I was checking out the pasta section of the Schwan catalog to see if there was something relatively affordable that I could cook, eat and save leftovers from (leftovers = WIN).  I happened upon a risotto and peas.  I almost bought it, but it's too expensive (like a lot of things Schwan sells).  So, I started searching for risotto recipes because it looked like some relatively easy I could make (and I am insanely curious about risotto - for reasons yet unknown.. Yes, reasons completely unknown.  I dare you to click that link.  Go on - do it!)

Ha ha ha.  And again I say, ha.  Twenty-plus minutes of standing over a pot of boiling rice is not my idea of a fun time.  I was about to abandon my search for a decent risotto recipe that didn't force me to slave over a hot stove when I found this little gem.  Anything that has "microwave" in the title must be promising.

But then I look at the ingredients list - like the Oatmeal says, every recipe I've tried to make at home requires that I go out and buy a boatload of crap that I'm only ever going to use for this one recipe (I think I still have spices from my freshman year of college in a box somewhere.  Yes, I probably ought to throw those out - but it seems such a waste.  And yet... I'm still not using them.  Betty Crocker I am not).

However, this recipe has things that I actually do buy - at least, one of the substitutions says that I can replace the white wine with white grape juice or apple juice and I have been known to buy both.  And who doesn't have butter or margarine in their fridge?  The only thing I wonder about would be that you have to use a certain kind of rice... and I just buy whatever rice is at the store.

... or I'll just buy another box of frozen corn dogs.  sigh... what I wouldn't give for a decent Chinese place somewhere close...

Happy Birthday Doctor Who!

(Yeah, the date says November 22 - but I'm posting this right before I go to bed, and it's the 23rd in most of the world by now, anyway).

It's an exciting day today - and not just because it's a short week. Today marks the 47th anniversary of the broadcast of the very first episode of "Doctor Who." "An Unearthly Child" was broadcast on November 23, 1963 and the rest is history. You can watch the first part of "An Unearthly Child" here (the rest of it is there too - just look down the playlist).

And I here celebrate with one of my favorite fanvids that includes all incarnations of the Doctor to this point:



Happy Birthday to our favorite Time Lord - and here's to many, many more!

Geek Mama Grizzlies - UNITE!

I know I've posted a boatload of stuff today, but I have to post about this because - well, just because.

First, read this blog post.  Or, if you're too lazy - Katie is a first grader who took a Star Wars water bottle to school - because it matched her Star Wars lunchbox and Star Wars backpack.  A group of obnoxious little maggots boys teased the poor girl because (ahem) Star Wars is only for boys.

Take a minute to let that sink in.  Then go beat the stuffing out of your nearest convenient pillow.  I'll wait.

This story is similar to something that happened to me in kindergarten.  When I was a kid, I LOVED the Ninja Turtles!  I watched the cartoon every time it was on and my mom would rent the videos for me to watch.  I had some of the comic books and Leonardo was my favorite - I thought the swords were cool (yes, I know they were katana - but four-year-olds don't quibble about details like that).  Now, living on a farm outside of town, I didn't get much interaction with kids my own age.  Oh, I knew kids in my Primary class and from preschool, but we didn't get too much into things like favorite cartoons and stuff like that.

When I got into kindergarten, however, there were more kids that I didn't know, but I didn't think much of it.  I proudly proclaimed that I was a Ninja Turtle fangirl (in not so many words, but yeah).  I distinctly remember a group of girls sneering at me for it.  Like "Ew - Ninja Turtles are for boys!"  And the boys weren't much better - they'd rather eat dirt than let a girl play with them (which, they probably ate dirt anyway, but that's not the point).

It made me feel terrible - like there was something very, very wrong with me because I liked the Ninja Turtles.  I kind of starting backpedaling, like "Ha ha, just kidding - I don't really like the Turtles," but that didn't work.  If anything, it caused me more heartache because the girls I played with weren't the kind of girls I should have been friends with (boys may like to beat each other up, but girls are just cruel and catty and that's 100 times worse than getting punched in the nose, in my opinion).  I eventually learned my lesson, returning to my roots and telling those mean girls to bug off.  That was the beginning of my "weird" reputation - a badge of honor I proudly wear to this day.  Over the years, the same girls (and boys) that teased me for my odd choice in TV softened in their outward attitudes, but they found other means of tormenting me - the girls especially.

There comes a point where you realize that you don't need to deal with that sort of crap.  So what if I'm a cute little five-year-old whose favorite cartoon hero is a giant turtle?  So what if Katie is a stinking adorable little girl with a Star Wars lunchbox?  This new generation of geek girls is lucky in that the internet has made it possible to know that we are not alone.  Dude, there's an entire blog of dedicated geek girls who are into this stuff!   Even so, it's tough when no one in your immediate circle of acquaintances shares the same interests as you.  It's even worse when they belittle you for it (especially when it's snot-nosed twerps doing it.  I've said it before - kids are among the cruelest beasts in the universe).

There is a good side to this story.  If you didn't notice, Katie's mom asked for other females who like somewhat-geeky things to share their stories.  I added my two cents, but I was amazed by the sheer volume of comments she was getting!  And this blog requires you to have an account to leave a comment!  (Here's a different blog that doesn't require an account to comment - and the similarity between her title and my title is purely coincidental, I swear!)

And the other good thing - the kind of treatment I received from these kids actually spurred me on to enjoy other geeky things (sort of a "Take That!" to the established idea of what little white Mormon girls in Utah should like).  I learned that the more people tell me I should/should not do something and it's something I actually want to do (that last one is the key here), the more I'm motivated to participate in it.  So, in a way, those little snotwipes I had to deal with in elementary school did me a favor.  Nowadays, I chalk it up to a character-building exercise.  Maybe I should thank them.