| One down |
[Nov. 16th, 2009|11:23 am] |
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Bank has deducted the first car payment right on schedule. Only 59 more to go. Hopefully my permanent plates will be in soon... |
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| Oops |
[Nov. 9th, 2009|01:49 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  disappointed | ] |
So I had this brilliant idea of taking some stickers intended for a car and mounting them on sheet magnets, so I could take them off for cleaning or when they wear out. Got the magnet sheets. Carefully mounted and cut out. And... there's not enough metal in the back hatch of the car for the magnet to stick.
Rassafrack. |
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| I'm a big loser! |
[Nov. 5th, 2009|02:44 pm] |
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Somehow managed to top the list of Biggest Losers at Curves in october. Only gained back a whole pound since then. I blame the halloween candy and my lack of self-control. |
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| Uh, who? |
[Nov. 3rd, 2009|12:47 pm] |
After a rather long time off, I've decided to give this thing one more try before I just delete the account altogether. I'm going to attempt to keep the whining and complaining out. I don't wanna hear it from other people, so why should anyone wanna hear it from me? So, general observations, news, who knows. Perhaps the occasional bit of bad fiction.
News.
Well, I bought a car a week and a half ago. Finally got the Prius I'd been after for, oh, a year. Probably could have held out a bit longer, but every time I got one thing fixed on the old car something more expensive broke. It's taking getting used to, I'm not too comfortable with the console layout yet, and pushing a button to go into park instead of moving the shift lever up is odd. But neat. And not having to buy gas every week is a big plus.
Bird news: Migrants have started to arrive, both white-throated sparrows and juncos. Still have a stubborn pair of robins.
Latest obsessions:
king.com games. Free if you want, or optional paid membership. Went for the paid membership, not sure if that was a wise move. Just one more game...
Dungeons & Dragons Online Eberron.
Yep, I finally gave up and tried an MMORPG, something I didn't think I would ever do. It's free, that helps. It's an Eberron setting, which helps immensely. My serial ranger is back in yet another incarnation. The pluses: It's free. It's a neat world. You don't have to interact with other people if you don't want to. Quests can be selected at different levels for more or less challenge.
The minuses: Doesn't follow any set of D&D rules I'm familiar with, all the way. Some things are definitely from 3.5, others definitely from 4. Others... *shrug* something else for the online version? Perhaps. |
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| Driving Test |
[Jan. 7th, 2009|01:36 pm] |
Two non-commercial vehicles traveling opposite directions approach a traffic light. One intends to turn right, the other to turn left, which puts them going the same direction on the new road. Both have a regular green light, not an arrow. There is no non-turning traffic in the way. Which has the right of way?
A. The one turning left
B. The one turning right
C. Whichever is larger and therefore more important
And for the bonus point - see if you can figure out why this is being asked! |
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| Road Rage |
[Jan. 5th, 2009|12:08 pm] |
Dear Driver:
In the great state of Maryland (if You can dream it, We can tax it), right turns on red are legal unless posted otherwise. However, nowhere in this state, and I believe in any state, is U-turn on red legal, no matter your age bracket nor ethnic identity.
Love and Kisses,
Me |
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| Mars Rovers celebrate 5 years |
[Jan. 3rd, 2009|08:55 am] |
This month marks the 5th anniversary of the MER, Mars Rover mission landings. Spirit and Opportunity, expected to work for 90 days, continue to send back data today. Found a delightful article written by an MER fan in the UK here. |
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| (no subject) |
[Dec. 24th, 2008|11:16 am] |
| [ | mood |
| |  stressed | ] |
Cam's already said it, but hey. Working on laundry, have a couple of students to teach, then pack up the hubby and the dog and too many presents into the car to head for Mom's.
Stress Level: High
So, for what it's worth, Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Joyous Yule, and Happy Non-Secular Day Off. |
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| Canine Philosophy |
[Nov. 5th, 2008|09:19 am] |
| [ | Tags | | | dogs | ] |
| [ | mood |
| | depressed | ] |
Down in the dumps today. Trying to buck it up so I don't take it out on the students later. I need to convince myself to think more like the dog.
Her concerns? Does she have a home and family? Yep. Comfy place to sleep? Several. Regular good meals? Yep. Treats? Probably more than she ought to. Her biggest problem at the moment? It's the third straight day of overcast, so she hasn't had any sunbeams to lay in.
Need to be like the doggie. |
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| Weekend ramblings |
[Oct. 25th, 2008|08:29 am] |
| [ | mood |
| |  grumpy | ] |
Not enough coffee in the world. At least not in my house. Agreed to do early lessons this morning because I was planning on going to mom's house. After this was agreed, mom changed her mind. Again. Yes, I'm grouchy.
Feeling downright nauseous about the upcoming election. Both of the main-party candidates disgust me, and the third-party folks aren't doing much better in my eyes. I fantasize about the day when there might actually be an honest, competent, SANE candidate out there somewhere. Oh yes, I will vote. Still doing research, attempting to sift through the heavy biases in the various media. Will need to follow links provided by Slothman when I'm less grumpy.
Tempted to do a long rambling post about the things I believe and how they apply to this country, but I'm afraid I'd have to lock it to all comments. Not in any way shape or form in the mood to listen to "I disagree so I'm right and you're wrong and how can you think that way?!!1!!" from anyone.
Maybe I should take a nap after my lessons.
Lots of laundry to do. Should continue working on figuring out how to play the flute. Yeah, I got a flute a while back. Figured since I play most of the other woodwinds, I may as well add that, and there are times when it could be helpful to one of the bands I play with. It's taking some getting used to. Probably ought to spend some quality time with the keyboard too, I've been slacking off on the practicing there.
Concert sunday. Need to figure out what kind of costume to wear. Grumpy enough that I wish I could get out of it. |
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| Friday Randomness |
[Oct. 17th, 2008|09:21 am] |
Seen on a t-shirt in a catalog that I order music teaching supplies from:
"Consort not with a female musician, lest thou be taken in by her snares" - Ben Sira, c. 190 B.C.
Want! |
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| Needlework supplies |
[Oct. 2nd, 2008|11:16 am] |
Since Mom's store closed a while ago, she and I have a LOT of leftover supplies. Prominent are:
Knitting needles - straight, mostly 10-inch length, bamboo or polymer, assorted sizes
Cross-stitch/needlework fibers: DMC, Anchor, and probably some overdyed somewhere. Standard skeins and super-size cones.
Fancy yarn - intended for scarves, but could be used for highlights as well.
Perle Cotton - size 8 and 12 on balls
Cross-stitch/needlework patterns and kits - I have 4 big shopping bags full
Paternyan tapestry wool
Aida, linen, and related fabrics (cross-stitch/needlework)
There is probably more too. If anyone is interested contact me, most of you have my email address or at least Cameron's. I will ask a small price, but mostly they just need to GO AWAY. |
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| Eins, Zwei, g'suffa! |
[Oct. 1st, 2008|11:30 am] |
Despite its name, Oktoberfest actually starts in September in Munich, so this is probably a little late. Ah well. I've already played one Oktoberfest concert this season, and hopefully I'll see one or two more.
Genieße das Leben ständig!
Du bist länger tot als lebendig!
Constantly enjoy life!
You're longer dead than alive! |
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| Go Go Red Robots! |
[Sep. 25th, 2008|07:50 am] |
OK, I remember enough geo-geekery that I've become fascinated with the Mars exploration robots and satellites. I think it's so cool that the rovers on Mars now (Spirit and Opportunity) have survived two years when they were expected to last 90 days. Especially after the failed missions several years ago. I love seeing what the scientists here are thinking up to explore next, while the little guys are still functional.
OK, I saw a life-size model of one in a museum, they're not that little, but still.
The latest with Opportunity - a 7-km drive to a much larger crater than the one it's been exploring for the past 2 years.
No, I don't understand the science of the robotics. I leave that to ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) telerib and the other "real" scientists out there. |
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| Go Green With Grammar! |
[Sep. 20th, 2008|11:15 am] |
| [ | mood |
| |  silly | ] |
So every once in a while I have ideas for alternative fuels. Way out there. Some I don't dare post here, cause I'd get thrown off lj so fast I'd bounce. But this one...
Elissa, make sure you don't have anything in your mouth.
Fuel cars with extraneous apostrophes! |
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| Scientific Progress Goes Poit? |
[Sep. 12th, 2008|11:06 am] |
So despite all the hubbub and stuff, the Large Hadron Collider has been fired up, albeit not yet at full power. And amazingly, the universe hasn't imploded. Now I freely admit that I don't remember much of Physics beyond basic high school level, so I dismissed the people who wanted it to never work as extremists.
So yesterday's Washington Post had an article about it. In the Style section with the fashion and performing arts and comics, which goes to show how much the Post knows about science. According to the article, the people against it are worried about it making black holes.
Seriously? Well, yeah, according to the article. Which I take with many grains of salt given the Post's biases. Same article says that the scientists on the project are not worried, as any black holes they make would be microscopic and only last a fraction of a second, like the ones that occur naturally in space caused by cosmic rays.
Now putting aside any opinions about whether it might be a good thing to open up a black hole under or near France, I have to ask if it's realistic? Could this Big Gizmo actually cause a Rift In Time And Space!!! large enough that anyone other than the instruments watching would even notice? I simply can't imagine it's -that- powerful, but as I said earlier, I don't remember much about Physics beyond basic global forces.
I know there's at least two Physicists and an Engineer (Real Scientists!) who may read this, so educate a poor musician! Just try not to break my poor feeble brain. |
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| Quandary solved? |
[Aug. 23rd, 2008|09:03 am] |
| [ | mood |
| | annoyed | ] |
Well, Teacher has taken back the book that the song was in I was maybe going to have to play. Which means it's not my problem. Now, I played phone tag with her for three days trying to at least get a yes or no, and never got to talk to her directly. You would think it would at least be considered common courtesy to say something along the lines of "thanks for scrambling, but we've got it covered."
And people wonder why I grumble about irresponsible teenagers.
Not. My. Problem. |
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| Musician's quandary |
[Aug. 20th, 2008|11:34 am] |
| [ | Tags | | | music | ] |
| [ | mood |
| | uncomfortable | ] |
Gig vs. staying the heck out of it
One of the young (high school graduate) teachers at the store comes up to me yesterday to ask a favor. Seems her friend had asked her to play a little piano at her wedding. Next weekend. Teacher has evidently made other plans after forgetting that she agreed to do this. Teacher has asked me if I can do it.
It's an excerpt from a piece that isn't too hard, with a little practice I should be able to do it fine, assuming I can get over the performance jitters - you know, the whole reason that my degree doesn't say Music Performance on it. After some grilling of Teacher, it turns out that this is to be used as the processional.
Um.
Well, at least no-one would be paying attention to me.
Now, there are a few questions I've had Teacher ask the Bride, I have not definitely agreed to this yet. Things like where and when - how far away is it? And whether or not I'd at least get gas money. If I do this to help out Miss Teacher, she at least ought to compensate me a little for covering her butt. Something else I will need to ask though - is the Bride OK with this? It seems to me that Bride asked Teacher to do this because it would mean a lot to the Bride to have her friend playing her down the aisle, and since friend is effectively dissing her for something else... why not just have whoever is playing the rest of the music do it? A "professional" pianist - one who's doing this anyway - would find the piece quite easy.
And I'm not getting into the whole moral thing of abandoning your friend on what's supposed to be one of the biggest days of her life. Not gettin' involved. Just trying to decide if I -should- do this at all. |
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| More typing |
[Aug. 8th, 2008|03:38 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  accomplished | ] |
Ze test, I have smacked it around and made it my bitch. 50 wpm with 10 errors.
Now I guess I get to focus on learning touch-typing, in a less panicked state.
Next step, keep applying for positions. Of course, the listings are supposed to update on Fridays, and haven't yet today. |
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