Everything went as expected and she will be discharged tomorrow morning.
Thanks to all for their thoughts, prayers, mantras, and positive energies.
12/16/08
12/14/08
11/8/08
Hole Baby
You know, Mr. Obama and I are the same age. Demographics says we are "Baby Boomers", but we are not. Mentality says we are "Gen X" (or whatever BS label it is today; Post-Label).
Calliope's Voice
Molly el puma grande has a point.
Hopefully you are all acquainted with The Muses. This poem was written in Minneapolis while I was hosting Voices From the Well Open-Mic. At the time, Chris Shillock was doing an early version of his epic poetry cycle, Millennium City. Its a rather gothic poem and Chris can really get into it when he gets going, especially with a band behind him. Anyway, this is my response to his cycle. Somewhere in the City, Chris dwells on inspiration and dares the Muse to dance with him.
Calliope is the Muse of Epic Poetry, by the way.
So...
11/7/08
11/5/08
Christmas Plans
I am keeping the Christmas get together on December 21. It will be an open house style gathering. People are welcome to start arriving at noon and can stay as long as they like. I will have snack food, baked goods and sandwich fixings. People are more than welcome to bring any other food and their own beverages--beyond water and soda. I would love to see everyone and hope that you can make it!
Well, That's That
Did you feel the earth move?
A historic Presidential Administration is set to begin. Are you ready for it? Can you dig it?
A historic Presidential Administration is set to begin. Are you ready for it? Can you dig it?
11/2/08
Renaissance Thinkers
I was reading a chapter in my textbook for my graduate class. The book is about reading comprehension and the ability of getting students to truly understand what they are reading. The current chapter I am reading is titled "A Renaissance of Understanding". It is discusses how the great thinkers of the renaissance thought and how the ability to think like that is not only nit being fostered in schools, but is actually being suppressed. The author describes renaissance thinking as having to do with finding connections among disciplines, seeking the highest form of aesthetic expression, inventing new thinking, pursuing a wide range of interests, creating models to capture our thinking, speculating about the possible and seeing almost unlimited potential in each person. She continues to say that true understanding may come chiefly from doggedly pursuing answers to one's own gripping questions. Those questions needn't be the philosophical, scholarly, or artistic quests we think of when we read about Renaissance thinkers; they may just be how to take the best sunrise picture of a flower in an overgrown meadow, why someone thought to preserve a spot for an urban garden, how to create the winning game plan for the game next week, or how to find time to become ta well rounded person with a variety of interests that will help you become a renaissance thinker.
I thought of our blog when reading this chapter and the debates that are had here. So, I challenge everyone to widen their interests and learn new things. Science minds learn about the written word and the history of language, the geography of the world, or the economics of our country. Literary minds learn about the chemistry of the processed food we eat or the history of politics. Academia minds learn about physical education, yoga, and sports. This could go on and on but I hope to one day be all of these and more...it is the best thing for me as a teacher to do. I hopefully have the personal experiences needed to help my students make connections.
I thought of our blog when reading this chapter and the debates that are had here. So, I challenge everyone to widen their interests and learn new things. Science minds learn about the written word and the history of language, the geography of the world, or the economics of our country. Literary minds learn about the chemistry of the processed food we eat or the history of politics. Academia minds learn about physical education, yoga, and sports. This could go on and on but I hope to one day be all of these and more...it is the best thing for me as a teacher to do. I hopefully have the personal experiences needed to help my students make connections.
10/31/08
A Case of the Vapors
This timely report comes to us from the Onion. This is precisely the kind of President we need. No joke.
Now, I suspect that the writers at the Onion may not have completely understood how close they came to this truth. Rather, I think they are riffing on a percieved lack of substance; reality vs. dream. I think they've hit a much larger target.
Those readers that are familiar with the Temple Tapes will see the connection.
http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/obama_warns_he_may_cease_to
Now, I suspect that the writers at the Onion may not have completely understood how close they came to this truth. Rather, I think they are riffing on a percieved lack of substance; reality vs. dream. I think they've hit a much larger target.
Those readers that are familiar with the Temple Tapes will see the connection.
http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/obama_warns_he_may_cease_to
10/25/08
World Series
Who is going to win it all? I told Matt that the first team to score would win the series, so I guess I am predicting the Phillies. I really want to see the Devil Rays win. Oh no, I said Devil and have to pay the $1.00 fine. What does everyone else think?
10/22/08
What about summer?
What about sometime during the summer? I would suggest sometime around the last week of July. The only concern is that the rentals are weekly May to September. The fall is also fine with me and the rentals are nightly after September. Then at either time would we have more than 6 or 8 or 14?
Sorry if you voted for me!
I just couldn't be the last one! So, hello all! I don't have any plans for the holidays as of yet, so any weekend for a get together will work for me (and I speak for Greg, too as the family scheduler.) Once Nutcracker is over with (Dec. 5++) and the only other tradition is we spend Christmas Eve Eve with our friend Gloria we are pretty much free. If it can't be worked out before Christmas what about the Sunday after Christmas?
10/21/08
The Next Reunion?
After some discussion at the 2008 Okar Family reunion, we thought that we might take up Bart's (middleman's) suggestion to visit the Chicago area. Because it is unlikely that we could all fit into Bart's place, Katie did some on-line searching and found this place:
link
In Michiana, near the shore of Lake Michigan. It looked good to those at MA and Jerry's breakfast table. Visit the link and see what you all think.
Or, perhaps some else wants to host? Maybe you have another idea, let us know. Thing is, we have a time deadline, of sorts, because this place will likely go rather fast, and we need to make reservations quickly.
As far as I know, we are aiming for the same time of year: Early October.
Thanks, Katie, for your efforts. I'll send you an email to help you sign up as an author.
link
In Michiana, near the shore of Lake Michigan. It looked good to those at MA and Jerry's breakfast table. Visit the link and see what you all think.
Or, perhaps some else wants to host? Maybe you have another idea, let us know. Thing is, we have a time deadline, of sorts, because this place will likely go rather fast, and we need to make reservations quickly.
As far as I know, we are aiming for the same time of year: Early October.
Thanks, Katie, for your efforts. I'll send you an email to help you sign up as an author.
10/19/08
Emergency Chocolate Rations
For those times when chocolate is the only comfort food you can imagine eating. I'm not a choco-phile myself, but I've been surrounded by them for many years.
Ingredients:
Chocolate chips: I like dark, bitter chocolate. Use what you like, or have on hand. I've tried white chocolate in this recipe, and it was not very good. You can also use chocolate powder.
Peanut butter: Crunchy PB, to be exact.
Fruit/nuts: (Optional) Mix in any kind of nut, whole or chopped. Dried fruit, like raisins, apricots, dates, whatever you can scrounge out of your cabinet. Fresh fruit can work, too. Be creative.
Set out 6 to 8 cup-cake sized baking cups.
Put 1 tablespoon PB in each
Put chocolate chips on top of PB, approximately equal volume of PB.
Heat in a warmed oven, or toaster oven until chips and PB are melted. I guess you could do this in a microwave, too.
Mix the melted chocolate and PB well. This is not as easy as it seems. Sometimes I mix, then reheat, and mix again.
Add any optional ingredients.
Put in freezer, or refrigerator until solid.
Ingredients:
Chocolate chips: I like dark, bitter chocolate. Use what you like, or have on hand. I've tried white chocolate in this recipe, and it was not very good. You can also use chocolate powder.
Peanut butter: Crunchy PB, to be exact.
Fruit/nuts: (Optional) Mix in any kind of nut, whole or chopped. Dried fruit, like raisins, apricots, dates, whatever you can scrounge out of your cabinet. Fresh fruit can work, too. Be creative.
Set out 6 to 8 cup-cake sized baking cups.
Put 1 tablespoon PB in each
Put chocolate chips on top of PB, approximately equal volume of PB.
Heat in a warmed oven, or toaster oven until chips and PB are melted. I guess you could do this in a microwave, too.
Mix the melted chocolate and PB well. This is not as easy as it seems. Sometimes I mix, then reheat, and mix again.
Add any optional ingredients.
Put in freezer, or refrigerator until solid.
10/18/08
Format
Dad,
I tried to call you, but you did not answer. Is there a way that you can change the format of the blog? I am used to threaded discussions and find that format to be easier to follow. Just a suggestion, if anyone disagrees or has another way to make it easier to find new posts or comments, please share.
I tried to call you, but you did not answer. Is there a way that you can change the format of the blog? I am used to threaded discussions and find that format to be easier to follow. Just a suggestion, if anyone disagrees or has another way to make it easier to find new posts or comments, please share.
What is "Family Lore"?
Stories
Bits of wisdom, vicarious or otherwise
Memories
Flashes of the past, some burnished, some raw Fire is at the center, remember:
Warm Too Hot Red Purple Underbelly of Tongues Drinking the Night (you know what I mean)
Its all a poem, really. I mean
"in Reality" Poetry is a life with alliteration and careful edits
that always go astray when they must not
be held by break, stricture, or deceit. Truth, in a scent
(innocent?) or in a sense?
Whatever
We all have our own pieces of the epic that is our family. I see this section as a place to begin fitting those pieces together. Leaded glass, a quilt, tapestry - see it as you want and are able. Not only "big" issues and insight, rather a place for the minute, the seemingly trivial.
What do you remember?
Bits of wisdom, vicarious or otherwise
Memories
Flashes of the past, some burnished, some raw Fire is at the center, remember:
Warm Too Hot Red Purple Underbelly of Tongues Drinking the Night (you know what I mean)
Its all a poem, really. I mean
"in Reality" Poetry is a life with alliteration and careful edits
that always go astray when they must not
be held by break, stricture, or deceit. Truth, in a scent
(innocent?) or in a sense?
Whatever
We all have our own pieces of the epic that is our family. I see this section as a place to begin fitting those pieces together. Leaded glass, a quilt, tapestry - see it as you want and are able. Not only "big" issues and insight, rather a place for the minute, the seemingly trivial.
What do you remember?
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