Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Cat and run
This is just a pic to show how well my NEW camera works when I do the settings right.
I took this from clear across the room, AND reduced the size to show here! But check all the detail!
I took this from clear across the room, AND reduced the size to show here! But check all the detail!
Monday, February 25, 2008
Told ya
I did have a pretty busy week this last week, as I expected. But that's not the only reason I wasn't posting anything. I seem to have been sort of mentally treading water, thinking I should be doing SOMETHING differently.
What I've decided is that, without noticing, I've gotten into the habit of thinking that passive activity, like reading stuff online, somehow COUNTS as accomplishing things. But without some form of action or interaction along with it, it's only spending time randomly. And I suspect I am wasting time, more than anything else.
So what I'm going to do is keep track of what I'm doing, in 15 minute blocks that I can count as either Active, Passive, or Mixed, and try to get a handle on what I've gotten into the habit of doing, so I can make some improvements.
One improvement I definitely want is to do better at responding to all you nice people, so I will start working on that right away.
Now for some content. Over the weekend we all went up to Brush to see the grands, which was what Mike wanted most for his birthday. It was a reasonably jolly weekend even though Mike has had the sniffles and a cough, and wasn't feeling at his best.
The dogs say they had NO FUN at ALL. They had to stay at the vet's for the day and a half we were gone. We picked them up on Sunday afternoon and Cowboy talk-howled to us all the way home about how awful it was and how terribly worried and upset he had been. Nothing beats an old dog for being able to shovel on the guilt.
I took my old camera along with me rather than the new one, because it had come to my attention that I had forgotten to get a larger memory card. The one it came with will only hold 8 large size pics. Also, the lens cap pops off if I carry it in my purse.
Here is a good example of why I replaced it. This SHOULD have been a picture of a Cattle Crossing sign, taken mid-afternoon.
Even here on the High Plains the wind seldom blows hard enough to remove paint and metal molecules from a road sign and light from the sky.
What I've decided is that, without noticing, I've gotten into the habit of thinking that passive activity, like reading stuff online, somehow COUNTS as accomplishing things. But without some form of action or interaction along with it, it's only spending time randomly. And I suspect I am wasting time, more than anything else.
So what I'm going to do is keep track of what I'm doing, in 15 minute blocks that I can count as either Active, Passive, or Mixed, and try to get a handle on what I've gotten into the habit of doing, so I can make some improvements.
One improvement I definitely want is to do better at responding to all you nice people, so I will start working on that right away.
Now for some content. Over the weekend we all went up to Brush to see the grands, which was what Mike wanted most for his birthday. It was a reasonably jolly weekend even though Mike has had the sniffles and a cough, and wasn't feeling at his best.
The dogs say they had NO FUN at ALL. They had to stay at the vet's for the day and a half we were gone. We picked them up on Sunday afternoon and Cowboy talk-howled to us all the way home about how awful it was and how terribly worried and upset he had been. Nothing beats an old dog for being able to shovel on the guilt.
I took my old camera along with me rather than the new one, because it had come to my attention that I had forgotten to get a larger memory card. The one it came with will only hold 8 large size pics. Also, the lens cap pops off if I carry it in my purse.
Here is a good example of why I replaced it. This SHOULD have been a picture of a Cattle Crossing sign, taken mid-afternoon.
Even here on the High Plains the wind seldom blows hard enough to remove paint and metal molecules from a road sign and light from the sky.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Mikes in the news, sorta
My good news today is that I got my article written for the local indy paper about yesterday's visit from Congressman Mark Udall, plus the political blogging of same. Also some household stuff. The downside is that AGAIN I got very little email answered. Oh, well, tomorrow is also a holiday. No point in packing stuff to mail if the PO is closed.
In order to have something to post I will share what I wrote about Mike's part in yesterday's meeting.
***
Mike got an early start in being exposed to politicians when he attended the kick-off of Gail Schoettler’s horseback ride across Colorado to promote her running for Governor (in 1998, when he was six). We used to have a picture of Gail posing with Mike and his Bert doll, but it got ruined in a water-heater flood.
Mike started taking an actual interest in politics about the same time I got interested again, because of all my praise for the guy he thought was named Power Dean. Even though he is sometimes shy about talking to strangers, and gets a little bored if an event drags on too long, he likes to attend political meetings.
I had explained the purpose of Saturday’s meeting to him by saying Congressman Udall wanted to hear about things that had people worried, like needing more money for schools, and more chances to be able to go to the doctor when they were sick.
Then I asked him what he thought was a problem that needed attention. I should have guessed — we need more trains. But he didn’t say it JUST because he’s a major railfan. We’ve talked about how trucks are used more than trains to move goods because trucks are cheaper to operate. Fuel is getting more and more expensive, though, so he thinks maybe trains will go back to being the best deal. Also, we should have light rail going between all the towns in the United States.
I told him he could say all that at the meeting if he wanted to, but if he didn’t feel like it, that was okay too. He made me promise to help him. Sure enough, the hope of getting more future train action helped him overcome his usual bashfulness and he spoke right out when it was his turn.
Later on, several other people brought the topic of trains or light rail back up when they talked, and he was delighted. “They like my ideas!” he whispered to me with a big grin.
You can’t buy good feelings like that with any amount of money.
Mike and Mark!
In order to have something to post I will share what I wrote about Mike's part in yesterday's meeting.
***
Mike got an early start in being exposed to politicians when he attended the kick-off of Gail Schoettler’s horseback ride across Colorado to promote her running for Governor (in 1998, when he was six). We used to have a picture of Gail posing with Mike and his Bert doll, but it got ruined in a water-heater flood.
Mike started taking an actual interest in politics about the same time I got interested again, because of all my praise for the guy he thought was named Power Dean. Even though he is sometimes shy about talking to strangers, and gets a little bored if an event drags on too long, he likes to attend political meetings.
I had explained the purpose of Saturday’s meeting to him by saying Congressman Udall wanted to hear about things that had people worried, like needing more money for schools, and more chances to be able to go to the doctor when they were sick.
Then I asked him what he thought was a problem that needed attention. I should have guessed — we need more trains. But he didn’t say it JUST because he’s a major railfan. We’ve talked about how trucks are used more than trains to move goods because trucks are cheaper to operate. Fuel is getting more and more expensive, though, so he thinks maybe trains will go back to being the best deal. Also, we should have light rail going between all the towns in the United States.
I told him he could say all that at the meeting if he wanted to, but if he didn’t feel like it, that was okay too. He made me promise to help him. Sure enough, the hope of getting more future train action helped him overcome his usual bashfulness and he spoke right out when it was his turn.
Later on, several other people brought the topic of trains or light rail back up when they talked, and he was delighted. “They like my ideas!” he whispered to me with a big grin.
You can’t buy good feelings like that with any amount of money.
Mike and Mark!
Friday, February 15, 2008
One of those weekish thingies
I don't know if I was just mentally exhausted after we finally survived the caucus we'd been working so hard on, or if I had a minor bug. But I just couldn't get my mental engine to crank over and rev up for most of last week. The weekend was a little better, and this past week pretty good...but I'm still playing the greatest hits of the All Catch-up, All The Time station.
Part of the trouble is with Things That Don't Work Again Still Some More. Maybe they are jealous because I fixed the stove and the hall light. But I have new additions on the list of things to fix. Maybe I should just save time and put anything I fix on the bottom of the list, so it will already be there when its turn comes around again.
And while we are on the subject of things going wrong:
Part of the trouble is with Things That Don't Work Again Still Some More. Maybe they are jealous because I fixed the stove and the hall light. But I have new additions on the list of things to fix. Maybe I should just save time and put anything I fix on the bottom of the list, so it will already be there when its turn comes around again.
And while we are on the subject of things going wrong:
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Bitten by a radioactive blue spider
(Yes, I am alive. Yes, I will start doing some real posts real soon now.)
On ColoradoPols the other day, DavidThi808 was talking about the super-delegates and wondering about their powers.
Which led me to go find this:
I don't know if it's because I am a Libra or a Liberal, but I often find myself, well, seeing a little of both sides on controversial issues.
SuperDelegates to the DNC are those lucky folks who get a critical vote of their very own to cast for who they want to see as the nominee. On the one hand, it does seem like those who are Supers because they got elected to office by The People ought to consider what those People are saying as they decide whether to rally behind Obama or Clinton.
On the other hand, the Supers get this special personal vote because they DO something for the Party. Yeah, it seems like a sweet deal to hold a glamorous office with an important title and then rake in the perks as well. But having done my tiny little job in the most minor office of a very low-populated county...it is my well-considered opinion that I wouldn't run for office EVER. Even if I won the Lotto and could afford it! It's way too much hassle for a little fleeting fame and minuscule reward.
So maybe it's fair for Supers to have their special votes.
Now that I've thought about it by writing about it, I guess my opinion is...still in the middle. (Oh, like you're surprised.)
It's kind of like what we expect from those we elect. We want them to fully study the issues they're going to be voting on, not just hang back to see which lobbyists or pollsters shout loudest before making up their minds. So it would be reasonable for the Supers to consider both their own opinions, AND how their districts voted.
What I DON'T think is okay is any hint of collusion or deal-brokering behind the scenes.
So if the Supers will be transparent in presenting their reasoning, and follow the rules as established...then I say let the votes fall as they may!
(PS, I'll give a Genuine Replica No-Prize to whoever can give the real identity of the character in the pic.)
On ColoradoPols the other day, DavidThi808 was talking about the super-delegates and wondering about their powers.
Which led me to go find this:
I don't know if it's because I am a Libra or a Liberal, but I often find myself, well, seeing a little of both sides on controversial issues.
SuperDelegates to the DNC are those lucky folks who get a critical vote of their very own to cast for who they want to see as the nominee. On the one hand, it does seem like those who are Supers because they got elected to office by The People ought to consider what those People are saying as they decide whether to rally behind Obama or Clinton.
On the other hand, the Supers get this special personal vote because they DO something for the Party. Yeah, it seems like a sweet deal to hold a glamorous office with an important title and then rake in the perks as well. But having done my tiny little job in the most minor office of a very low-populated county...it is my well-considered opinion that I wouldn't run for office EVER. Even if I won the Lotto and could afford it! It's way too much hassle for a little fleeting fame and minuscule reward.
So maybe it's fair for Supers to have their special votes.
Now that I've thought about it by writing about it, I guess my opinion is...still in the middle. (Oh, like you're surprised.)
It's kind of like what we expect from those we elect. We want them to fully study the issues they're going to be voting on, not just hang back to see which lobbyists or pollsters shout loudest before making up their minds. So it would be reasonable for the Supers to consider both their own opinions, AND how their districts voted.
What I DON'T think is okay is any hint of collusion or deal-brokering behind the scenes.
So if the Supers will be transparent in presenting their reasoning, and follow the rules as established...then I say let the votes fall as they may!
(PS, I'll give a Genuine Replica No-Prize to whoever can give the real identity of the character in the pic.)
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Bet I'm not the only one
Raise your hand if you dreamed about tonight's caucuses.
In my dream, we were suddenly having ours at some hotel attached to an outdoor activities park. I was trying to help make packets for the candidates and precinct leaders, but I didn't have enough of ANYTHING to go around, and some stuff was just NOT THERE.
Anxiety much?
The thing is, outside of the sudden snowstorm blowing around out there, we're WAY ready. We've had a practice meeting and training for our precinct people at the high school. Our county chair's son is a teacher there, so if we need more space than the lunchroom, he can get us access to some classrooms.
I've been fielding phoned-in questions, both serious and goofy, and looking up people's precincts for them online. My hair even has a fresh coat of blue!
So I guess we're ready.
*quivers*
In my dream, we were suddenly having ours at some hotel attached to an outdoor activities park. I was trying to help make packets for the candidates and precinct leaders, but I didn't have enough of ANYTHING to go around, and some stuff was just NOT THERE.
Anxiety much?
The thing is, outside of the sudden snowstorm blowing around out there, we're WAY ready. We've had a practice meeting and training for our precinct people at the high school. Our county chair's son is a teacher there, so if we need more space than the lunchroom, he can get us access to some classrooms.
I've been fielding phoned-in questions, both serious and goofy, and looking up people's precincts for them online. My hair even has a fresh coat of blue!
So I guess we're ready.
*quivers*
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Weekend mix
I'm feeling kind of kin to how our weekend was, a big mix of stuff. Some of it was productive--I finally fixed the oven! We had a BIG blackberry cobbler to celebrate! Also Tater Tots!
On the other hand, some of it was lazy and vacation-like, lounging around listening to Mike stories and playing with the dogs. And some was in the middle...I bleached my hair in preps for re-bluing it tomorrow (a task somewhere in between lazy fun and productivity).
So since I don't have much actual content, I have LINKS!
This is weird and funny. It doesn't look like it at first...but just give it a second.
TASTY!: A LONG time ago, there was a candy maker with a shop in Pueblo who sold something they called cream filberts. It's a hazelnut surrounded by a layer of cooked sugar (it has a texture like those mallocreme pumpkins or Christmas candies--softish but not quite chewy), then rolled in sugar. They always had them at their booth at the state fair, back in the day, but not for the last, oh, twenty years or so. BUT! Here is a place offering them for sale through an online catalog!
On the other hand, some of it was lazy and vacation-like, lounging around listening to Mike stories and playing with the dogs. And some was in the middle...I bleached my hair in preps for re-bluing it tomorrow (a task somewhere in between lazy fun and productivity).
So since I don't have much actual content, I have LINKS!
This is weird and funny. It doesn't look like it at first...but just give it a second.
TASTY!: A LONG time ago, there was a candy maker with a shop in Pueblo who sold something they called cream filberts. It's a hazelnut surrounded by a layer of cooked sugar (it has a texture like those mallocreme pumpkins or Christmas candies--softish but not quite chewy), then rolled in sugar. They always had them at their booth at the state fair, back in the day, but not for the last, oh, twenty years or so. BUT! Here is a place offering them for sale through an online catalog!
Saturday, February 02, 2008
*sigh*
Partly cloudy here this am, but still bright enough.
Friday, February 01, 2008
Me again!
Been riding the roller coaster this week, and not the ones in the stories Mike likes to make up and tell me. Last Friday for some reason I just could not get to sleep after I went to bed. I tossed around a while, then got out my laptop and watched two new episodes of Chuck (how come none of you guys told me it was back on???). I was STILL not sleepy after that, so I got up (at 4:30 am), seriously startling Mike in the process.
I grabbed short naps off and on Saturday, and got back to a more or less normal (for me) sleep pattern by Monday. But then Monday there was a small dust-up between me and a couple of members of our local Dems. I think we have all been stressing about the upcoming precinct caucuses, and the big postcard mailing project. Happily it all worked out in the end, and we are back on track anticipating Tsunami Tuesday's events.
I guess that gets me up to date, but only because I can't think of any of the things I am pretty sure I was going to post about. Maybe I already mentally wrote them up in my head, so my brain thought it was okay to delete them....
I grabbed short naps off and on Saturday, and got back to a more or less normal (for me) sleep pattern by Monday. But then Monday there was a small dust-up between me and a couple of members of our local Dems. I think we have all been stressing about the upcoming precinct caucuses, and the big postcard mailing project. Happily it all worked out in the end, and we are back on track anticipating Tsunami Tuesday's events.
I guess that gets me up to date, but only because I can't think of any of the things I am pretty sure I was going to post about. Maybe I already mentally wrote them up in my head, so my brain thought it was okay to delete them....
