Here comes 2009........
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Hope
Claire Burns
Mrs. Gjestvang
January 20, 2009
Seven things I think after hearing the Inaugural Speech
I think he will stop war because in his speech he said no more tanks or guns.
I also think he will send some money to schools and they can buy more things for the schools.
I think he will help the economy.
I think he will help the poor and the people who need help because that would be very sweet.
He will try to help to make our environment better.
He will make us feel safe when he makes a change, because he is smart.
He will help us make the world a better place, because he is our president and he is supposed to do that.
Mrs. Gjestvang
January 20, 2009
Seven things I think after hearing the Inaugural Speech
I think he will stop war because in his speech he said no more tanks or guns.
I also think he will send some money to schools and they can buy more things for the schools.
I think he will help the economy.
I think he will help the poor and the people who need help because that would be very sweet.
He will try to help to make our environment better.
He will make us feel safe when he makes a change, because he is smart.
He will help us make the world a better place, because he is our president and he is supposed to do that.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Owl Tree
We went on another hike today with Aunt Jennifer to Buckley Station. We hiked out to a special tree that she has named "Owl Tree." She explained that she often sees an owl late in the evening close to this tree. We walked up and John spotted the owl sitting on a branch. My pictures are not the clearest; but, if you look closely, you can see him or her.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Lists
I don't know exactly why, but, I hate lists. I think it has something to do with a past boss and her obsession with lists. She started her day off with a list and couldn't end her day until everything on that ridiculous list was crossed off. She really wanted me to have a list too. And if I didn't make a list, she would make some snide comment about my "list less" (no pun intended) day. Always implying that my work day would be so much more productive if I would only make a list.
My disdain for lists is deeply rooted. It's so bad that I rarely make a list to go grocery shopping. When I do actually take the time to sit down and write a list, I usually forget where I put it - causing me to walk around the grocery store trying to remember what was on my misplaced list. The funny part though, is when I am in the grocery store, I pine for my lost list. And when I return home and realize what I've forgotten, I usually vow to write a list next time.
I am coming around to lists, however. I witnessed my friend, Lyne, thoughtfully and respectively cross items off her list as we were packing up to leave Tahoe. The manner in which Lyne managed her list was very impressive and I made note of the stark contrast of her "list behavior" as compared to the "list behavior" of my old boss. As Lyne crossed items off her list, she seemed to become calmer and more sure of herself. My old boss just became more frantic when she crossed things off, it was like her life was dwindling away and she needed to find more "stuff" to add to the list.
There has to be a happy middle ground for the world of "lists." Maybe I will find it. Maybe I won't. I'll keep you "posted" (pun intended) on my progress.
My disdain for lists is deeply rooted. It's so bad that I rarely make a list to go grocery shopping. When I do actually take the time to sit down and write a list, I usually forget where I put it - causing me to walk around the grocery store trying to remember what was on my misplaced list. The funny part though, is when I am in the grocery store, I pine for my lost list. And when I return home and realize what I've forgotten, I usually vow to write a list next time.
I am coming around to lists, however. I witnessed my friend, Lyne, thoughtfully and respectively cross items off her list as we were packing up to leave Tahoe. The manner in which Lyne managed her list was very impressive and I made note of the stark contrast of her "list behavior" as compared to the "list behavior" of my old boss. As Lyne crossed items off her list, she seemed to become calmer and more sure of herself. My old boss just became more frantic when she crossed things off, it was like her life was dwindling away and she needed to find more "stuff" to add to the list.
There has to be a happy middle ground for the world of "lists." Maybe I will find it. Maybe I won't. I'll keep you "posted" (pun intended) on my progress.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
A Night Out
On the advice of my Social Coordinator/Job Share Partner Extraordinaire, I went on a date with my hubbie last night. We started our evening with a dinner out at an Indian restaurant and then went to see the movie "Slumdog Millionaire."
We had a great time and even enticed some friends to come along, turning the evening into a double date. The process of double dating brought back memories of high school outings when we would go out for the evening in groups of girls and boys and fondly refer to it as "herd dating." Ironically, two of my herd dating gal pals now live on farms in southern Indiana. One friend raises Bison and the other friend has a number of different animals that she desperately tried to include in her Christmas card this year.
Let's come back to the present day and focus on last night's movie. I highly recommend it! Since seeing that movie, I vow to never complain again about my life. I look around my house and sing the praises of running water, flusing toilets, electricity and just modern day stuff! I will make only one more comment on the movie because I don't want to give anything away...the conditions that the characters in this movie lived through make our current economic crisis seem like a slight inconvenience. I hope you go see it and enjoy is as much as we did!
Double Date Partners: Steve and Mandy McAvoy
Bison/Hell Raiser: Lisa Beck-King
Animal Herder and all around great gal: Kelly Reese-Stevens
We had a great time and even enticed some friends to come along, turning the evening into a double date. The process of double dating brought back memories of high school outings when we would go out for the evening in groups of girls and boys and fondly refer to it as "herd dating." Ironically, two of my herd dating gal pals now live on farms in southern Indiana. One friend raises Bison and the other friend has a number of different animals that she desperately tried to include in her Christmas card this year.
Let's come back to the present day and focus on last night's movie. I highly recommend it! Since seeing that movie, I vow to never complain again about my life. I look around my house and sing the praises of running water, flusing toilets, electricity and just modern day stuff! I will make only one more comment on the movie because I don't want to give anything away...the conditions that the characters in this movie lived through make our current economic crisis seem like a slight inconvenience. I hope you go see it and enjoy is as much as we did!
Story Characters
Social Coordinator/Job Share Partner Extraordinaire: Emily BristowDouble Date Partners: Steve and Mandy McAvoy
Bison/Hell Raiser: Lisa Beck-King
Animal Herder and all around great gal: Kelly Reese-Stevens
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Lake Tahoe Fun
Claire and Joey in ski school. By the end of the day, they were skiing pros!
Claire on the ski lift with a peek of Lake Tahoe in the background.
Joey on the ski lift with beautiful view of Lake Tahoe.
Skiing ProsOh, California!
Oh, California, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways...
Fall colors in Santa Cruz
Napa Views
Claire and Joey having fun in Lake Tahoe Tuesday, December 30, 2008
A Chat with Jack
In August of 2007, I sat down with my Dad and interviewed him about some of the events in his life. Below is an excerpt of the interview. Over time, I will upload the complete interview and place it in the side bar. You can listen to excerpts of the interview by clicking on the little sound pictures. I hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed conducting the interview!
P.S. The picture of Jack in the side bar was provided by Alex Sirugue-MacLeod
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
Fashion Statement
Yesterday we pulled down the boxes of hand-me-downs that have been stored in the attic for a few years. Joey was in seventh heaven as he purused the garments from his new clothing line.
This morning after he picked out an outfit for the day, he called to me, "Look Mom, I match! See, stripes, stripes and stripes!" He was so proud of his new outfit that he even suggested that I take a picture of him in front of the Christmas tree.
Move over Ralph Lauren, Joey Burns is the new fashion designer on the block!
Friday, December 19, 2008
Thanks George
Well okay, so, you and I are opposite sides of the fence on every issue facing our society today. But, we came together on this issue. Thanks George.
P.S. I'm sorry for cheering on the shoe throwing guy. That really would have hurt!
P.S.S. This still doesn't change my overall opinion of you...I won't reflect on that here, you are well aware...................and if you are really curious about the details, well, just listen to John Prine's song, Some Humans Ain't Human. He sums it up very nicely.
P.S. I'm sorry for cheering on the shoe throwing guy. That really would have hurt!
P.S.S. This still doesn't change my overall opinion of you...I won't reflect on that here, you are well aware...................and if you are really curious about the details, well, just listen to John Prine's song, Some Humans Ain't Human. He sums it up very nicely.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Apology Accepted
My darling brother, Mark, left me a message the other day apologizing for a childhood mishap. His daughter, Gabrielle, will soon be taking the test for her driving permit. This milestone encouraged him to reflect on his own experience while obtaining his driving permit. Mark did not perform too well during his driving test. He failed.
Apparently, Mark decided that he could not take responsibility for this failure. He decided that the fault should be placed on a second party....ME! Luckily, I do not have any recollection of this finger pointing scenario and I do accept my brother's belated apology. Quite frequently, I see history repeating itself in my own household as the older child is constantly blaming the younger for her failures.
Interesting. Maybe there is a genetic connection. I'm wondering if Claire will be placing a call to Joey in about 30 odd years to apologize for her misguided blame? I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Apparently, Mark decided that he could not take responsibility for this failure. He decided that the fault should be placed on a second party....ME! Luckily, I do not have any recollection of this finger pointing scenario and I do accept my brother's belated apology. Quite frequently, I see history repeating itself in my own household as the older child is constantly blaming the younger for her failures.
Interesting. Maybe there is a genetic connection. I'm wondering if Claire will be placing a call to Joey in about 30 odd years to apologize for her misguided blame? I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
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