Never a Dull Moment

My own accident (photographically)

I like this guy

A Quick One

Too busy to blog. New semester brings lots of work (so does the new technology). All is well. Hope the same is true for all of you.

Snow Day #3

No Snow.
No Maggie.
Last school day is now a Monday.
Weak.

The Smartest Board Alive

SMARTboards are awesome. I’ve told just about everyone about them at some point. It’s like a giant touch screen monitor that can be used for countless operations in a classroom or boardroom. Just use your finger to interact with Windows, or pick up one of four colored stylus markers and use the board the way you normally would. All writing is converted to text. Also good for powerpoint, normal overhead stuff, and giant freakin movies.

Well, after requesting more access to one, designing interactive writing lessons around it, and writing the longest argument-essay of an email ever, they decided to plant one front and center in my classroom. I shot a little video of it on Friday to get the point across easily, but I’m not sure how long that takes to look at on an average computer (no one commented on the bowling video of Maggie that we posted a few weeks back). But for now, this pic will get the point across.

It’s like Christmas never ends.

Pie Crash

A very sad thing happened yesterday. While sitting on the couch enjoying the afternoon daze with a book, I heard an alarming crash.

I think you know the rest of the story (those of you that know these were mounted on the kitchen wall).

I’m not sure how it happened, but I blame the upstairs neighbor.

It seems that the cherry pie plate (I so wanted to use that) came crashing down and took my beloved pumpkin with it. I was more bummed than you might expect. I loved these plates, mostly because they came from my grandmother and I have memories of them from long ago.

I picked up the pieces and thought of how I could commission Mary to use them in a mosaic. But just taking a picture made me feel better. Somehow, even with their immediate absence, I felt like they were documented. Preserved in their very destruction.

Nothing is Impossible, Just Highly Improbable.

During commercials of the second night of the 4-hour season premiere of 24 (which ruled), Maggie and I played Cosmic Wimpout. Pictured here is the first natural freight train we have seen since we started playing a few months back. The strange part is that I rolled another one exactly like it in the same game. I don’t know much about probability, but that was freakin amazing.

According to this guy, on a throw of all five dice, you have a .116% chance of scoring a freight train (not sure that is right or what it might equal in terms of probability).

Considering that I did that twice in one game, that both frieght trains were of fours, and that I know nothing of probability, I figure I’ll never roll one again. So I documented it for you to enjoy.

24: New Season

Fox. 8:00. Two-hour season premiere. Get on board.

Happy Birthday Regina

We missed the official post date by a few minutes. It's Photoshop's fault.

For Reals

Ok, it seemed as though no one checked out the amazing podcast from Umphrey’s Mcgee (except Mike, who was already into them). Your loss (well, it's not like time is up or anything- if fact there is a new podcast out now). Maybe it was that I said "right-click, save as" in my own blog. I meant once you got to the page.

Anyway...

It also seemed that I was over both video games and Nintendo. That was until I saw this video of the (dare I say- revolutionary) controller. Now I don’t know what to think.

Even if you’re only remotely into video games or know someone that is, check this out. Remember- it’s not about the graphics (they will be better upon release)- it’s about the controller interface.

And as we all know, you can’t buy this yet. But you can, of course, earn it.

If you liked the first video, watch this. Thank you Google video.

Avoid at all Costs

If you find yourself in the neighborhood around 6 o’clock in the morning and need a Nature Valley granola bar or some coffee, for the love of God, DO NOT go to the Mobil gas station on State Street in New Haven (next to Modern Pizza). Today was the third time this school year I stopped here instead of the Shell station on Willow. I usually don't stop anywhere, but we were out of bagels.

To begin, there is nothing wrong with the gas station itself. The place is well stocked, lit, and maintained. The problem is with the mutant they have working the early (or late) shift. I’m not sure he is human. He seems to understand English, but can’t recreate the sounds himself- like a dog.

I won’t go through the other two times I had to deal with this freak, I’ll just stick to today.

When I got there, I thought the place was empty. As I was walking to the food isle, I saw the top of his strange little head emerge from behind the counter (I felt like I was disturbing him or that I had caught him in the act of something). When I came back to the counter with my Newtons and granola, I realized he was cleaning his ears out with a q-tip. After switching hands to get the other ear and take a long look at the end of the swab, he started to handle my breakfast with the crustiest hands I’ve seen. I don't think he was even doing any math as, oddly enough, the bill came up to exactly $3.00. I think he just wanted to share the wax. I had my card out to pay. He noticed, put out his hand and grunted (sounded a bit like debit). Thankfully Mobil has one of those machines where you can swipe the card yourself. I said “Yeah. Debit. I got it.” I then left the earwax-covered items on the counter, picked up the same items from the shelf and told him to go wash his hands.

Cinema Stud: Cinderella Man

See it.
Maybe my new favorite depression-era story of hope (sorry Seabiscuit)
Best Russell Crowe performance since Gladiator
Best Ron Howard film since Backdraft
Maybe my favorite boxing film (sorry Raging Bull)
One of the few times I could stomach Renée Zellweger
More than a few ties to In America
Paul Giamatti

If you haven’t seen it and plan to, read nothing else about the movie or the life of Jim Braddock.

And no, Cinema Stud will not be an ongoing title for movie reviews.

Best Schedule Ever

This has been a great school year and it seems to keep getting better.
As if loving what I do, making a difference in the lives of students, getting along extremely well with my colleagues, and only working 183 days a year weren’t enough-
I have been hooked up with this schedule.

What is not reflected in this picture is a free period between Hall Duty and Eng. 9C, which including lunch and wandering the hall, equates to about two hours of free time in the middle of the day. I mean, outside of grading and planning and such.

I will miss teaching Expository Writing, but it will be nice having less to grade (and watching and talking about film).

One Step Closer to Kitt

Say goodbye to CD players in cars. Well, maybe not anytime soon, but I (like most people) am done with CDs. Give me memory and lots of it. New head units are coming out with USB ports and SD card readers. I guess this set up isn’t really any better than having an iPod wired into your system, but I like where things are going. And 60 gigs in a usb device for two-hundo is (by itself) pretty cool.

We need carputers and we need them now. I have too many wires and flex arms in my ride.

Throw that Rock

Try it.

Quick and Clean

Getting people to turn on to new music can sometimes be hard.

This will be easy, fast, and free (if you don’t like it, nothing wasted really):

1. iTunes- check podcasts for Umphrey’s McGee – grab podcast #16

Or

2. Their website (right-click- save target as)

They will be in New Haven at Toad’s Place February 14th -$18.50
Maggie and I saw them at the Big Summer Classic and loved them (most played disc from the entire festival- and it only had one five-song set)

Good straight rock- not Phishy

Enjoy

In the Game

Four jobs you have had:
1. Paper Route – job I could do with my dog, the late great Toby; once delivered papers in a flood – that’s dedication – however, was let go due to occasional tardiness
2. Everything Yogurt and Salad Café – Became a smoothie making master, alongside my sister Felicity, in the food court of the Meriden mall
3. Albertus Magnus Bookstore – Best boss ever, the fantastic and delightful Sally Wells
4. Hill Cooperative Youth Services – got paid to play

Four movies you would watch over and over:
1. About a Boy
2. Amelie
3. The Little Mermaid
4. Elf

Four places you have lived:
1. Prospect Street
2. Humphrey Street
3. Edwards Street
4. Orange Street
Yes, I love East Rock.

Four TV shows you love to watch:
1. Cash Cab – Check it out on the Discovery Channel
2. 24 – Jack is back 1/15/06
3. Scrubs
4. House

Four places you have been on vacation:
1. St. Maarten, best vacation so far, first vacation with my husband
2. the Catskills
3. Florida
4. Appalachain trail

Four websites you visit daily:
1. I am lucky if
2. I check my
3. email daily -
4. no, make that weekly

Four of your favorite foods:
1. Salads so perfectly composed they don’t need dressing
2. Lasagne made by my mom, Regina Moller
3. Shrimp
4. Cheesecake

Four places you would rather be right now:
1. I am happy
2. to
3. be
4. here

I choose Jillian to be it.
Dan, are you satisfied? And also thank you for tagging me - this was kinda fun.

Yes

You probably already know this, but in case you didn’t, John Stewart is hosting the Oscars.

Meme From Malc

Thanks Malcolm for tagging me (um...).

Here goes:

Four jobs you've had in your life:
1. Artist's Assistant (one half-hour every Wednesday, five dollars)
2. Cashier (but I always asked to push carts so that I could roam around the parking lot)
3. Italian Deli clerk (I drank more espresso and ate more cacciatore than should be allowed)
4. Rave Promoter (money for partying)

Four movies you would watch over and over:
1. Shawshank Redemption
2. The Incredibles (but really any Pixar movie)
3. Last Crusade
4. Elf

Four places you have lived:
1. 52
2. 800
3. Room 105
4. Apt 4

Four TV shows you love to watch:
1. 24
2. Futurama
3. Law and Order
4. House

Four places you have been on vacation:
1. Cape Cod
2. Vermont and New Hampshire in Autumn
3. St Maarten
4. Appalachian Trail

Four websites you visit daily:
1. Cheap Stingy Bargains
2. Craigslist
3. Engadget
4. Google News

Four of your favorite foods:
1. Hummus with tortilla chips
2. Salmon (any form, but preferably smoked)
3. Pizza (pile)
4. Sausage Stuffing (thank you Lauren and Regina)

Four places you would rather be right now:
1. Bed
2. Oyster Bay
3. The Pantry
4. A Pool Hall

Now seeing as Maggie never blogs, I think I am going to tag her for this one (I'm guessing that she doesn't even remember her password for blogger). TAG.

Snow Day #2

The Short of It:

1. Breakfast at The Pantry- Lox Benedict (wrap your mind around that), Banana pancakes, coffee, coffee, coffee.

2. King Kong- All I can say is: DAMN!

3. A dinner that was a throwback to a dream: Pizza Pile (pictured above in its new form).

The Long of It:
Now, the first pizza pile that we had was actually created by a smooth-move by Lauren and it was exactly as you would expect. Years ago, Lauren, Maggie and I went to a local pizzeria for takeout. As soon as we got to Lauren’s apartment, and set up the pizza on the coffee table, Lauren clobbered the entire box (Kong style) and it landed on the carpet. We had to eat it with forks and it rocked (we didn’t eat it off of the floor).

Flash-forward a few years.

I had a dream. Not one nearly on par with King Junior (Martin Luther- not Kong), but a good dream nonetheless. It was a dream so vivid I woke up tasting the food of which I had dreamt. It was simple. I went to the store immediately and then to the kitchen.

Hot Italian sausage- cooked alone
Red potatoes quartered and baked
Spinach with olive oil
Feta cheese (not melted)
Tomato (cut but not cooked)
Mixed together in a large pot.

Sort of Greek, sort of like what you would find on a pizza I ordered (well, not the potatoes). As we had no plans to knock over any more pizzas, this would become Pizza Pile (and someday I will have to order pizza with potatoes on it to make it official).

So now it’s a year or so later from my Dream Dinner and Pizza Pile is born again. This time with less feta, and including mushrooms.
Dreams can come true.