Odwalla Super Food is one of my favorite beverages. Yes, it's green. I love it! It makes me feel good when I drink it and I know it's good for me.
When Leslie, my husband was in the hospital last year, I started drinking it in the cafeteria. I found that it helped me at a time when I was running myself ragged and my immune system was lowered. It made me feel better and it helped me. I would get a big salad and an Odwalla to take up to his hospital room when he stayed for 7 days.
If you are busy and don't have a lot of time to eat right, grab an Odwalla.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Subway
I love eating at Subway. I always order the same thing--a Veggie Delight on whole wheat with pepperjack cheese, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, olives, green peppers, and nothing else. Perfect! I could eat at Subway every day for the rest of my life and never get tired of it. I'd probably switch off between the Veggie Delight sandwich and the Veggie Delight salad.
Right now they are having a special--any regular footlong sandwich for 5 bucks. It's an amazing buy so go to your nearest Subway and try one.
Right now they are having a special--any regular footlong sandwich for 5 bucks. It's an amazing buy so go to your nearest Subway and try one.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Extra
I pulled out a video tape from years ago when I was an extra in the movie, A Summer to Remember with Tess Harper, Louise Fletcher, and James Farentino. I was standing right next to James Farentino in a multi-colored bright striped Koret shirt and red skirt. We were standing in front of a stage with belly dancers and a juggler at Fargo's Famous Circus. This movie was made in the mid-80's. I forget what year but it was fun to be standing next to James Farentino.
Our whole family came to be part of the movie at the Polk County Fairgrounds but I was the only one who got to be part of it. We got a T-shirt and boxed lunch for the effort. I was fluffy at that time too. I've had a weight problem since 1978 when my husband got sick. So there I am standing next to James Farentino, fluffy cheeks and all.
We were also in a Brooks running shoe commercial. Our whole family showed up at Bush Park in Salem and our whole family got money--$20 bucks a head. This was in the mid-80's too.
Our whole family came to be part of the movie at the Polk County Fairgrounds but I was the only one who got to be part of it. We got a T-shirt and boxed lunch for the effort. I was fluffy at that time too. I've had a weight problem since 1978 when my husband got sick. So there I am standing next to James Farentino, fluffy cheeks and all.
We were also in a Brooks running shoe commercial. Our whole family showed up at Bush Park in Salem and our whole family got money--$20 bucks a head. This was in the mid-80's too.
TMTH
TMTH = Too Much To Handle
My Tivo has been clogged. I had 7 American Idol shows to watch so I was way behind. Last Tuesday, I watched live because I haven't been voting and I didn't know what was going on. My favorite to win is Michael Johns.
I was sad to see that Danny Noriega was voted off. I'm a fan, Danny. This was TMTH. I loved it when his reponse to Simon Cowell was a snap of his head saying, "Some people weren't likin' it!" Danny has pizzazz and I really like him. He should have been in the top 12 so he could tour the United States.
Simon Cowell is important. He helps everyone reach higher, dig down deeper to be the best they can be. It's not always easy to listen to his comments but anyone who critiques talent is giving a great gift.
My Tivo has been clogged. I had 7 American Idol shows to watch so I was way behind. Last Tuesday, I watched live because I haven't been voting and I didn't know what was going on. My favorite to win is Michael Johns.
I was sad to see that Danny Noriega was voted off. I'm a fan, Danny. This was TMTH. I loved it when his reponse to Simon Cowell was a snap of his head saying, "Some people weren't likin' it!" Danny has pizzazz and I really like him. He should have been in the top 12 so he could tour the United States.
Simon Cowell is important. He helps everyone reach higher, dig down deeper to be the best they can be. It's not always easy to listen to his comments but anyone who critiques talent is giving a great gift.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
JOHN ADAMS
Watch JOHN ADAMS, the powerful HBO mini-series this weekend. It is based on the the best seller written by David McCullough, the winner of the Pulitzer Prize. Anything written by David McCullough is worth reading, buying, and putting in your home library. The executive producer of JOHN ADAMS is Tom Hanks so you know it's going to be outstanding. Anything Tom Hanks touches is excellent. I sincerely hope this is one of many to come based on books by David McCullough. We are in for a treat, if this is true.
Overleaf Lodge
My husband and I were given a gift certificate to the Overleaf Lodge in Yachats, Oregon for Christmas from our son, Benjamin and his wife, Amanda. We stayed there last Saturday night and plan to stay on April 19th to celebrate our 36th wedding anniversary. What a wonderful gift to heal the heart and nourish the soul!
I love Yachats, my favorite area along the Oregon Coast. My favorite place to eat is the Blue Whale and my favorite choice on the menu is fish and chips.
The historic 804 Trail next to the ocean is a few steps from the Overleaf Lodge along with the pounding waves on the rocks, magnificent sunsets, and the variety of coastal birds. To walk the trail, breath in the fresh air, and feel part of the pristine coastline renews and nourishes. It doesn't get much better than this.
Everyone at the Overleaf Lodge works in concert to make your stay a special experience for each guest. All the special touches and care, as each does their best, succeeds to make your stay unforgetable. The complimentary breakfast couldn't have been nicer. I went right for the cut-up fresh fruit and juices. Leslie went for the calorie-laden foods and he's the one without a weight problem.
I finished the last page in WHAT ABOUT THE BIG STUFF? Finding Strength and Moving Forward When the Stakes are High by Richard Carlson, Ph.D. in our room at the Overleaf Lodge. It was appropriate to end on the last chapter entitled "Happiness," which talks about staying in the moment, take your focus off problems, allow your mind to clear, and make a choice to be happy now. There are always problems in one's life to deal with. No life is ever perfect or the way you want it to be but if you always postpone seizing moments of happiness or joy, you will never be happy.
Thank you, Benjamin and Amanda!
I love Yachats, my favorite area along the Oregon Coast. My favorite place to eat is the Blue Whale and my favorite choice on the menu is fish and chips.
The historic 804 Trail next to the ocean is a few steps from the Overleaf Lodge along with the pounding waves on the rocks, magnificent sunsets, and the variety of coastal birds. To walk the trail, breath in the fresh air, and feel part of the pristine coastline renews and nourishes. It doesn't get much better than this.
Everyone at the Overleaf Lodge works in concert to make your stay a special experience for each guest. All the special touches and care, as each does their best, succeeds to make your stay unforgetable. The complimentary breakfast couldn't have been nicer. I went right for the cut-up fresh fruit and juices. Leslie went for the calorie-laden foods and he's the one without a weight problem.
I finished the last page in WHAT ABOUT THE BIG STUFF? Finding Strength and Moving Forward When the Stakes are High by Richard Carlson, Ph.D. in our room at the Overleaf Lodge. It was appropriate to end on the last chapter entitled "Happiness," which talks about staying in the moment, take your focus off problems, allow your mind to clear, and make a choice to be happy now. There are always problems in one's life to deal with. No life is ever perfect or the way you want it to be but if you always postpone seizing moments of happiness or joy, you will never be happy.
Thank you, Benjamin and Amanda!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
What I want..............
This morning I turned on Direct TV and looked at my horoscope to find that it said, "You deserve to have what you want--not approximately but exactly. Be as specific as possible, and stand back in amazement at how precisely the universe was listening to you."
I thought to myself, Why, that sounds great! So I started writing on 3 X 5 cards everything I want and taping them by the television. Here's my list so far:
Finish 2 plus novels a year. Write lots of screenplays that inspire and make millions. Travel the world in safety. Opportunities to help people, protect the environment, animals, and inspire people to be the best they can be. Health care for all, no homeless, healthy food and clean water for all, world peace, and protection of the planet. $5 million winner in Oregon lottery. Weigh 135 pounds through diet and exercise. Able to afford to buy condos near my children. Dance, sing, and laugh often. $700 million winner from national lottery. Able to attend writing conferences. Winner of $5,000 a week for life from Publishers Clearing House. A new bright yellow Toyota Corolla with temperature control. Time to read 4 hours a day. Time to write 8 hours a day. Time to exercise, swim, lift weights every day for 3 hours at a luxury gym. Surrounded by trust-worthy, smart people. Always have fresh, healthy food to eat. Live a long time with perfect health. Opportunities to make people happy and laugh. No war. No crime. People who are kind to each other in the world. No drugs. No mean people. Visit Sweden every year and own a home in Sweden. Opportunities to speak to large groups. A 10,000 sf house overlooking water that I own and can afford to live in the rest of my life. A 500 sf room filled with floor to ceiling bookcases on each wall. A 500 sf writing studio with windows on two walls and one entire wall a dry erase board for plotting novels. Endless patience. Unlimited wisdom and understanding. Able to buy all courses from the Teaching Company. Opportunity to go back to school and get an MBA, an MFA in creative writing, and a Ph.D. in psychology. Win 3 Oscars. Great music that I can turn on at an instant, like American Standards, cool jazz, and classical. Win a Pulitzer Prize. My books on education and parenting on the NY Times best seller list for over a year. Speak of my books on C-Span on Book TV. Happy, healthy children and grandchildren, and a happy, healthy Leslie.
And then my husband, Leslie says my horoscope in the Corvallis Gazette Times this morning says I'm going to cause everyone a headache! Whatever.... I have the right to dream.
I thought to myself, Why, that sounds great! So I started writing on 3 X 5 cards everything I want and taping them by the television. Here's my list so far:
Finish 2 plus novels a year. Write lots of screenplays that inspire and make millions. Travel the world in safety. Opportunities to help people, protect the environment, animals, and inspire people to be the best they can be. Health care for all, no homeless, healthy food and clean water for all, world peace, and protection of the planet. $5 million winner in Oregon lottery. Weigh 135 pounds through diet and exercise. Able to afford to buy condos near my children. Dance, sing, and laugh often. $700 million winner from national lottery. Able to attend writing conferences. Winner of $5,000 a week for life from Publishers Clearing House. A new bright yellow Toyota Corolla with temperature control. Time to read 4 hours a day. Time to write 8 hours a day. Time to exercise, swim, lift weights every day for 3 hours at a luxury gym. Surrounded by trust-worthy, smart people. Always have fresh, healthy food to eat. Live a long time with perfect health. Opportunities to make people happy and laugh. No war. No crime. People who are kind to each other in the world. No drugs. No mean people. Visit Sweden every year and own a home in Sweden. Opportunities to speak to large groups. A 10,000 sf house overlooking water that I own and can afford to live in the rest of my life. A 500 sf room filled with floor to ceiling bookcases on each wall. A 500 sf writing studio with windows on two walls and one entire wall a dry erase board for plotting novels. Endless patience. Unlimited wisdom and understanding. Able to buy all courses from the Teaching Company. Opportunity to go back to school and get an MBA, an MFA in creative writing, and a Ph.D. in psychology. Win 3 Oscars. Great music that I can turn on at an instant, like American Standards, cool jazz, and classical. Win a Pulitzer Prize. My books on education and parenting on the NY Times best seller list for over a year. Speak of my books on C-Span on Book TV. Happy, healthy children and grandchildren, and a happy, healthy Leslie.
And then my husband, Leslie says my horoscope in the Corvallis Gazette Times this morning says I'm going to cause everyone a headache! Whatever.... I have the right to dream.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
The Teaching Company
I've recently discovered the great gift of learning from the amazing courses through The Teaching Company. At 75% off, I selected as my first choice, Argumentation: The Study of Effective Reasoning taught by Professor David Zarefsky of Northwestern University. I believe that studying logic, rhetoric, and reasoning are basic to writing and will help me as a writer. I was right. I believe this course can help all writers to organize and uplift their writing to higher standards of argument. I learned so many things about the history of debate, how to organize an argument for effective reasoning, and now I want to read everything by Aristotle. I plan on listening to it again and again. This is a great gift to give to any young person in school for this course is basic to all learning and study.
The Teaching Company was founded in 1990 "to ignite people's passion for lifelong learning by offering great courses taught by great professors." The professors are selected "for intellectual distinction and teaching excellence." The courses range from art and music to history, economics, religion, and science.
I just finished listening to The Study of Effective Reasoning by listening to it in my car as I drive back and forth to Corvallis and now I'm on to the second course that I selected, Einstein's Relativity and the Quantum Revolution: Modern Physics for Non-Scientists by Professor Richard Wolfson from Middlebury College. He's an amazing teacher. I could learn anything from him.
I'm interested in almost all of the courses offered and plan on purchasing them through the coming years. I'm excited to select courses on philosophy, history, and literature first. I can't afford to go back to school with the high cost of higher education. I've love to get my masters degree and go on for a Ph.D. but it's unrealistic. Even the best universities do not have all the best teachers that inspire at their universities but the Teaching Company does.
With a lifetime satisfaction guarantee take a look, order a catalog, and try a course by calling 1-800-TEACH-12.
http://www.teach12.com/
The Teaching Company was founded in 1990 "to ignite people's passion for lifelong learning by offering great courses taught by great professors." The professors are selected "for intellectual distinction and teaching excellence." The courses range from art and music to history, economics, religion, and science.
I just finished listening to The Study of Effective Reasoning by listening to it in my car as I drive back and forth to Corvallis and now I'm on to the second course that I selected, Einstein's Relativity and the Quantum Revolution: Modern Physics for Non-Scientists by Professor Richard Wolfson from Middlebury College. He's an amazing teacher. I could learn anything from him.
I'm interested in almost all of the courses offered and plan on purchasing them through the coming years. I'm excited to select courses on philosophy, history, and literature first. I can't afford to go back to school with the high cost of higher education. I've love to get my masters degree and go on for a Ph.D. but it's unrealistic. Even the best universities do not have all the best teachers that inspire at their universities but the Teaching Company does.
With a lifetime satisfaction guarantee take a look, order a catalog, and try a course by calling 1-800-TEACH-12.
http://www.teach12.com/
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Feed
I checked out FEED by M. T. Anderson at the library yesterday and I'm almost finished. It won a Los Angeles Times Book Prize 2002 young adult fiction award, and was a finalist for the National Book Award. I recommend listening to the audio book at the same time that you read the book so you get the full nuance of the voices of young people to capture the full experience.
It's a disturbing book, not only because of the deterioration of our society and young people but of the consequences of choices to ignore warnings about our environment and using harmful chemicals. I shudder to think that my grandchildren might have to live in a society like this with a "feed" implanted in them at birth giving them instant access to computer knowledge with streaming commercials. When I think about this, I think about the research at Oregon State University and Hewlett Packard in Corvallis into nanotechnology. I think about how invasive and what a danger this has the potential to be to civil liberties and individual rights. Sometimes I'm glad I'm 60. The choices made by the leaders in this country are taking our country away from a path of freedom and individual rights.
It's a disturbing book, not only because of the deterioration of our society and young people but of the consequences of choices to ignore warnings about our environment and using harmful chemicals. I shudder to think that my grandchildren might have to live in a society like this with a "feed" implanted in them at birth giving them instant access to computer knowledge with streaming commercials. When I think about this, I think about the research at Oregon State University and Hewlett Packard in Corvallis into nanotechnology. I think about how invasive and what a danger this has the potential to be to civil liberties and individual rights. Sometimes I'm glad I'm 60. The choices made by the leaders in this country are taking our country away from a path of freedom and individual rights.
Screenwriting
I'm taking a class on Tuesday nights at the Benton Center in Corvallis on screenwriting. The instructors are Linda and Gary Hamner. This is part of the Linn-Benton Community College. The assignment last Tuesday was to bring a 5 minute scene in an elevator. Here's part of mine entitled FACE YOUR NEMESIS. The man in the scene is a composite of about five people. I'm changing the formatting due to the limitations of this blog.
A middle-aged man and woman in their late 50's walk into an elevator in a large building and the door shuts. Immediately the elevator halts and the door jams.
GREAT ARBITRATOR (booming, echoing, haunting voice over loudspeaker)
You are on the new reality FOX show FACE YOUR NEMESIS from the producers of Survivor.
(audience CLAPS)
GILT E. MANN
What's going on? I didn't sign up for this?
GREAT ARBITRATOR
Oh, yes, GILT E. MANN....You were both selected by the producers to be on the show.
GILT E. MANN
We'll see about this. I'll call my attorney. I was expecting to meet a client.
GREAT ARBITRATOR
Your attorney and wife have already agreed on paper to this alternative, in lieu of costly court litigation and a possible jail sentence.
GILT E. MANN
How dare you! Let me out of here! I didn't do anything!
GILT E. MANN leans over to grab CELESTE L. REIN around the neck and a plexiglass breathable shield covers CELESTE as a protective barrier from harm.
CELESTE L. REIN
You're going to listen to me.
GREAT ARBITRATOR
You're not going anywhere GILT E. MANN. You are here until the door opens.
GILT E. MANN
Outrageous! I've never heard of such a thing.
GREAT ARBITRATOR
At the end of two hours or however long this takes, you both have the choice of a spa vacation at a premier resort at a Caribbean location, a seven-day cruise on Cosmos Cruise Lines, a new wardrobe or room make-over, $50,000 cash, or a brand new Mustang convertible.
GILT E. MANN
This is a horror show!
GREAT ARBITRATOR
You are both on camera with microphones. (audience CLAPS) CELESTE L. REIN has at her disposal the buttons of torment, the Guilt-O-Meter, and a full range of sound, smell with visual and motion effects to alter your reality.
The elevator shakes, vibrates, and starts to drop. The lights go out and lights flash as if there is no ceiling and lightening could almost touch both participants. One side of the elevator becomes a video screen. Both back away to the other side of the elevator. The side of the building seems to disappear with no railing for safety giving the illusion that they could both fall hundreds of feet. CELESTE pushes buttons at random bringing rain, heat, and wind in rapid succession.
CELESTE L. REIN
I think I'm going to like this.
CELESTE L. REIN presses more buttons that change the video screen giving the illusion that an airplane is going to crash into the elevator within seconds, then switching to under water with great white sharks swarming. Next the illusion of snakes coming out from every corner of the elevator quickly changed to STENCH from garbage and rats appearing on the floor.
GREAT ARBITRATOR
There are a few rules. CELESTE L. REIN has the choice to select buttons of torment for effect that bring no harm for the purpose of soliciting a public apology, retribution, and commitment for change leading to a signed contract for a settlement. Guilt has already been determined by our army of criminal attorneys and a federal judge on the basis of written documents and undercover investigation.
GILT E. MANN
You can't get away with this! I didn't do anything wrong.
CELESTE L. REIN
Yeah! Saint on Sunday. Criminal and thief during the week.
GILT E. MANN
This is baseless slander.
GREAT ARBITRATOR
The time has come for you, CELESTE L. REIN, to FACE YOUR NEMESIS. Confront GILT E. MANN who has been predetermined to have hurt you most in the world so you can heal, rediscover yourself, and move forward with your life. A documentary will display on the EVIDENCE WALL. Relax, lean against the back of the wall and view your lives in conflict.
A documentary on the EVIDENCE WALL showed signed documents of illegal activity outlining criminal behavior and video of GILT E. MANN conspiring against CELESTE L. REIN causing her to lose home, bank account, friends, opportunities, and good name.
CELESTE L. REIN
See how you have hurt me! You used your power to silence me. I lost everything because of you.
GREAT ARBITRATOR
Now for the demonstration of the Guilt-O-Meter. This devise was invented by a genius who was awarded the Valor of Honor by the CIA. This sensitive instrument is able to detect the slightest weakness and gives an instant readout on the hand-held scanner with suggestions for the best ways to take advantage of weakness.
This is almost three minutes or three pages of the script. Lots more in my head where this came from.........................So many scripts to write...........so little time.................
A middle-aged man and woman in their late 50's walk into an elevator in a large building and the door shuts. Immediately the elevator halts and the door jams.
GREAT ARBITRATOR (booming, echoing, haunting voice over loudspeaker)
You are on the new reality FOX show FACE YOUR NEMESIS from the producers of Survivor.
(audience CLAPS)
GILT E. MANN
What's going on? I didn't sign up for this?
GREAT ARBITRATOR
Oh, yes, GILT E. MANN....You were both selected by the producers to be on the show.
GILT E. MANN
We'll see about this. I'll call my attorney. I was expecting to meet a client.
GREAT ARBITRATOR
Your attorney and wife have already agreed on paper to this alternative, in lieu of costly court litigation and a possible jail sentence.
GILT E. MANN
How dare you! Let me out of here! I didn't do anything!
GILT E. MANN leans over to grab CELESTE L. REIN around the neck and a plexiglass breathable shield covers CELESTE as a protective barrier from harm.
CELESTE L. REIN
You're going to listen to me.
GREAT ARBITRATOR
You're not going anywhere GILT E. MANN. You are here until the door opens.
GILT E. MANN
Outrageous! I've never heard of such a thing.
GREAT ARBITRATOR
At the end of two hours or however long this takes, you both have the choice of a spa vacation at a premier resort at a Caribbean location, a seven-day cruise on Cosmos Cruise Lines, a new wardrobe or room make-over, $50,000 cash, or a brand new Mustang convertible.
GILT E. MANN
This is a horror show!
GREAT ARBITRATOR
You are both on camera with microphones. (audience CLAPS) CELESTE L. REIN has at her disposal the buttons of torment, the Guilt-O-Meter, and a full range of sound, smell with visual and motion effects to alter your reality.
The elevator shakes, vibrates, and starts to drop. The lights go out and lights flash as if there is no ceiling and lightening could almost touch both participants. One side of the elevator becomes a video screen. Both back away to the other side of the elevator. The side of the building seems to disappear with no railing for safety giving the illusion that they could both fall hundreds of feet. CELESTE pushes buttons at random bringing rain, heat, and wind in rapid succession.
CELESTE L. REIN
I think I'm going to like this.
CELESTE L. REIN presses more buttons that change the video screen giving the illusion that an airplane is going to crash into the elevator within seconds, then switching to under water with great white sharks swarming. Next the illusion of snakes coming out from every corner of the elevator quickly changed to STENCH from garbage and rats appearing on the floor.
GREAT ARBITRATOR
There are a few rules. CELESTE L. REIN has the choice to select buttons of torment for effect that bring no harm for the purpose of soliciting a public apology, retribution, and commitment for change leading to a signed contract for a settlement. Guilt has already been determined by our army of criminal attorneys and a federal judge on the basis of written documents and undercover investigation.
GILT E. MANN
You can't get away with this! I didn't do anything wrong.
CELESTE L. REIN
Yeah! Saint on Sunday. Criminal and thief during the week.
GILT E. MANN
This is baseless slander.
GREAT ARBITRATOR
The time has come for you, CELESTE L. REIN, to FACE YOUR NEMESIS. Confront GILT E. MANN who has been predetermined to have hurt you most in the world so you can heal, rediscover yourself, and move forward with your life. A documentary will display on the EVIDENCE WALL. Relax, lean against the back of the wall and view your lives in conflict.
A documentary on the EVIDENCE WALL showed signed documents of illegal activity outlining criminal behavior and video of GILT E. MANN conspiring against CELESTE L. REIN causing her to lose home, bank account, friends, opportunities, and good name.
CELESTE L. REIN
See how you have hurt me! You used your power to silence me. I lost everything because of you.
GREAT ARBITRATOR
Now for the demonstration of the Guilt-O-Meter. This devise was invented by a genius who was awarded the Valor of Honor by the CIA. This sensitive instrument is able to detect the slightest weakness and gives an instant readout on the hand-held scanner with suggestions for the best ways to take advantage of weakness.
This is almost three minutes or three pages of the script. Lots more in my head where this came from.........................So many scripts to write...........so little time.................
Thursday, February 28, 2008
The Greatest Gifts
I've come to the conclusion that the greatest gifts in life are the gift of time and the gift to be yourself.
The Big 60
On Monday, the 25th, I turned 60. For the last few months, I've been feeling my age. I've been noticing new wrinkles and feeling slower in my step. I've always felt very young inside until lately. I've decided I'm going to skip by threes in reverse every year from this year forward so next year I'll be 57 or maybe I should skip right to 40 and stay there.
For my birthday, my son, Benjamin and his wife, Amanda, sent my husband and I tickets on Amtrak Cascades to travel round trip from Albany to Seattle and back. I love traveling by train. After Ben and Amanda picked us up from the station on Saturday, we drove to their home in Green Lake where I followed clues to the big surprise, which was my son, Daniel in the backyard who flew out from Columbus, Ohio to spend time with me on my birthday. I know that Daniel didn't have the time to do this but it always means so much to see him. I'm grateful I got to spend the weekend with him. Everyone made my birthday so special. This was the best birthday I've ever had in my life.
After the excitement of seeing Daniel, we drove in the car to Alkai Beach where it was crowded with everyone enjoying the sun and we ate fish and chips at Spuds. It couldn't have been nicer. Then we drove back home for the Sponge Bob birthday cake with candles and the gift of a family photo taken at Ben and Amanda's wedding. For dinner, we went to my favorite Italian restaurant, Buca de Beppo for fun and great food with everyone at the table including Alicia, Amanda's sister, and Sharon and Scott, Amanda's parents. It was wonderful.
On Sunday morning, we walked to the Rusty Pelican in Wallingford where I always order the garden skillet because it's so delicious and always perfect. Next we went to visit the troll that lives under the bridge in Fremont, the center of the universe. I'm writing a children's book about him. Then it was onto the Sunshine Cafe in Ravenna where I had a delicious slice of homemade wheat bread with hummus. After that there was a surprise by my son, Daniel who arranged for me to have a manicure at the Derby Salon with Jessie who is delightful to talk to. Then we drove to downtown Seattle to see the movie, Fool's Gold and afterwards I had a delicious luau salad at the Cheesecake Factory before taking Daniel to the airport.
When we got up on Monday, we had fun playing canasta and drinking coffee. Later we walked around the beautiful Green Lake. Benjamin took Les and out for lunch to May Thai Restaurant and I had a delicious vegetable stir fry before boarding the train at 2:20 p.m. on Cascade Train 507 south bound.
This was the best birthday I have ever had in my life and I'm grateful to my family for making it so nice. Thank you.
For my birthday, my son, Benjamin and his wife, Amanda, sent my husband and I tickets on Amtrak Cascades to travel round trip from Albany to Seattle and back. I love traveling by train. After Ben and Amanda picked us up from the station on Saturday, we drove to their home in Green Lake where I followed clues to the big surprise, which was my son, Daniel in the backyard who flew out from Columbus, Ohio to spend time with me on my birthday. I know that Daniel didn't have the time to do this but it always means so much to see him. I'm grateful I got to spend the weekend with him. Everyone made my birthday so special. This was the best birthday I've ever had in my life.
After the excitement of seeing Daniel, we drove in the car to Alkai Beach where it was crowded with everyone enjoying the sun and we ate fish and chips at Spuds. It couldn't have been nicer. Then we drove back home for the Sponge Bob birthday cake with candles and the gift of a family photo taken at Ben and Amanda's wedding. For dinner, we went to my favorite Italian restaurant, Buca de Beppo for fun and great food with everyone at the table including Alicia, Amanda's sister, and Sharon and Scott, Amanda's parents. It was wonderful.
On Sunday morning, we walked to the Rusty Pelican in Wallingford where I always order the garden skillet because it's so delicious and always perfect. Next we went to visit the troll that lives under the bridge in Fremont, the center of the universe. I'm writing a children's book about him. Then it was onto the Sunshine Cafe in Ravenna where I had a delicious slice of homemade wheat bread with hummus. After that there was a surprise by my son, Daniel who arranged for me to have a manicure at the Derby Salon with Jessie who is delightful to talk to. Then we drove to downtown Seattle to see the movie, Fool's Gold and afterwards I had a delicious luau salad at the Cheesecake Factory before taking Daniel to the airport.
When we got up on Monday, we had fun playing canasta and drinking coffee. Later we walked around the beautiful Green Lake. Benjamin took Les and out for lunch to May Thai Restaurant and I had a delicious vegetable stir fry before boarding the train at 2:20 p.m. on Cascade Train 507 south bound.
This was the best birthday I have ever had in my life and I'm grateful to my family for making it so nice. Thank you.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Chow Mien
I learned how to make chow mien through the community education program through LBCC in Corvallis tonight from instructor, Chenhui Ho. Oh, it was good! What fun it is to learn how to make new dishes and meet nice people. Chenhui Ho is such a nice lady whose smile spreads across her face and fills the room. We enjoyed learning from her. I know I did. Thank you.
I learned how to make chinese noodle dishes and soups. I learned about new ingredients at the Asian Store where I shop on 9th Street in Corvallis, like dried mushrooms. I sure had a nice time.
It was fun to see people I've met before in Master Gardening and writing. There was a biologist, a children's writer, master gardeners, an engineer, a computer software CEO, teachers, and more. It sure is fun to take these classes to learn new things and connect with people in the community.
I get in a rut with my cooking. I make stir fry but I usually make it the same way. I cut up carrots, onions, broccoli, celery, and cauliflower and mix it up in a big bowl and stuff quart size plastic storage bags to put in the refrigerator. I also add mushrooms, bell pepper, zucchini to a small bag that I put in the top of the quart bags for stir fry during the week when I'm home. I add slices of barbeque pork or teriyaki chicken on a bed of rice with the veggies. Now I can mix it up and try something new.
I learned how to make chinese noodle dishes and soups. I learned about new ingredients at the Asian Store where I shop on 9th Street in Corvallis, like dried mushrooms. I sure had a nice time.
It was fun to see people I've met before in Master Gardening and writing. There was a biologist, a children's writer, master gardeners, an engineer, a computer software CEO, teachers, and more. It sure is fun to take these classes to learn new things and connect with people in the community.
I get in a rut with my cooking. I make stir fry but I usually make it the same way. I cut up carrots, onions, broccoli, celery, and cauliflower and mix it up in a big bowl and stuff quart size plastic storage bags to put in the refrigerator. I also add mushrooms, bell pepper, zucchini to a small bag that I put in the top of the quart bags for stir fry during the week when I'm home. I add slices of barbeque pork or teriyaki chicken on a bed of rice with the veggies. Now I can mix it up and try something new.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Oh, the fun I would have.........
I rolled on by Alsea School at 20 mph and saw the sign in front that says they are searching for a new Superintendent. My mind exploded thinking of all the fun I would have as Superintendent. First of all, I would treat all the kids as if they were gifted and talented. I would want ALL of them to win. I would set the school up to teach on three levels on every subject--review, learn at the level at which the student tests, and to teach above the level of the student for enrichment to introduce advanced concepts. This would be every day for every student. I would model the school after the curriculum I developed for my homeschool in Arroyo Grande, CA from 1978 to 1982. It would work like the classroom of Marva Collins in Chicago and the best schools where all children win.
First of all, I would concentrate on individual sports so everyone would be healthy. I would buy everyone roller skates and turn the gym into a roller skating rink for one hour a day for students and teachers. We would also use the track for walking and running that includes all students and teachers. Events for walking and running would be set up and students would be encouraged to participate in local and state running and walking events. Nutrition would be taught to everyone and the meals would reflect healthy choices.
Next we would move on to the school lunch program. Alsea School doesn't have a federal free school lunch program but it would with me in charge. I would march myself over to Salem and have a talk with the Governor to fix this. We would set up a hydroponic greenhouse to grow all the fruits and vegetables needed for all the students. If Epcot Center at Disney World can grow all the food for the resorts and restaurants, we could grow all the food needed for the school. Master Gardeners would be encouraged to teach and give special expertise plus horticulture students from OSU. Students would learn about gardening by working in the greenhouse.
The money saved from team sports would be put into taking buses to the Portland Art Museum, OMSI, the Portland Zoo, the symphony, and other trips like this. We would have band and orchestra starting in grade one and by the time the kids were in high school, they would be amazing.
Every day, the whole school would read for an hour, including teachers. The school would participate in the National Spelling Bee, the National Geography Bee, the NASA Robotics competitions, math competitions, and more. We would send up rockets and kites. The students would write every day and participate in a school newspaper from grade one through 12th where they would end up submitting articles to magazines and participating in National Novel Writing Month and National Screenwriting Month.
Anyone in the area from elite distance runners to biologists and experts with advanced degrees would be invited to share knowledge. I can see the fun it would be talking to the kids about the escape speed of a ball needed to travel out into outer space from earth and never drop back down to earth would have to be at least 7 miles per second, and that if you squish the earth into a ball the size of a ping pong ball that it would become a black hole which is where the escape speed is greater than the speed of light. I believe that you can teach a five year old anything, IF you explain advanced concepts clearly enough and show them how fun learning can be.
We would debate Supreme Court law cases to teach forensics. We would learn about world leaders, history, and the Constitution. We would play chess. We would all learn ballroom dancing. We would teach logic and reasoning. We would film movies and write plays. We would learn about all the ologies, like entomology. Oh, the fun we would have and the things we would learn. My heart skips a beat just thinking about the possibilities and the joy. The best way is for me to write about my school that exists only in my head with all the students winning, who love to learn, and all go on to college, 'cause it's not going to happen in the real world. Oh, well....back to reality.
First of all, I would concentrate on individual sports so everyone would be healthy. I would buy everyone roller skates and turn the gym into a roller skating rink for one hour a day for students and teachers. We would also use the track for walking and running that includes all students and teachers. Events for walking and running would be set up and students would be encouraged to participate in local and state running and walking events. Nutrition would be taught to everyone and the meals would reflect healthy choices.
Next we would move on to the school lunch program. Alsea School doesn't have a federal free school lunch program but it would with me in charge. I would march myself over to Salem and have a talk with the Governor to fix this. We would set up a hydroponic greenhouse to grow all the fruits and vegetables needed for all the students. If Epcot Center at Disney World can grow all the food for the resorts and restaurants, we could grow all the food needed for the school. Master Gardeners would be encouraged to teach and give special expertise plus horticulture students from OSU. Students would learn about gardening by working in the greenhouse.
The money saved from team sports would be put into taking buses to the Portland Art Museum, OMSI, the Portland Zoo, the symphony, and other trips like this. We would have band and orchestra starting in grade one and by the time the kids were in high school, they would be amazing.
Every day, the whole school would read for an hour, including teachers. The school would participate in the National Spelling Bee, the National Geography Bee, the NASA Robotics competitions, math competitions, and more. We would send up rockets and kites. The students would write every day and participate in a school newspaper from grade one through 12th where they would end up submitting articles to magazines and participating in National Novel Writing Month and National Screenwriting Month.
Anyone in the area from elite distance runners to biologists and experts with advanced degrees would be invited to share knowledge. I can see the fun it would be talking to the kids about the escape speed of a ball needed to travel out into outer space from earth and never drop back down to earth would have to be at least 7 miles per second, and that if you squish the earth into a ball the size of a ping pong ball that it would become a black hole which is where the escape speed is greater than the speed of light. I believe that you can teach a five year old anything, IF you explain advanced concepts clearly enough and show them how fun learning can be.
We would debate Supreme Court law cases to teach forensics. We would learn about world leaders, history, and the Constitution. We would play chess. We would all learn ballroom dancing. We would teach logic and reasoning. We would film movies and write plays. We would learn about all the ologies, like entomology. Oh, the fun we would have and the things we would learn. My heart skips a beat just thinking about the possibilities and the joy. The best way is for me to write about my school that exists only in my head with all the students winning, who love to learn, and all go on to college, 'cause it's not going to happen in the real world. Oh, well....back to reality.
My Treatise
Be kind to all people for you
know not their experience or pain.
Work hard to be the best you can be
to gain knowledge and understanding.
Concern yourself with mastery of self,
not with control of others.
Safe guard the land and
abuse not your body.
Harm no person but
speak out when harmed.
Respect others and
demand respect for yourself.
Seek out people who encourage your best
and see your best.
Shield yourself from bullies who
limit and diminish you.
Stand in your strength and
let nothing stop you from being
unique as an individual.
know not their experience or pain.
Work hard to be the best you can be
to gain knowledge and understanding.
Concern yourself with mastery of self,
not with control of others.
Safe guard the land and
abuse not your body.
Harm no person but
speak out when harmed.
Respect others and
demand respect for yourself.
Seek out people who encourage your best
and see your best.
Shield yourself from bullies who
limit and diminish you.
Stand in your strength and
let nothing stop you from being
unique as an individual.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
The Neverending Novel
A soap opera is a never ending novel allowing you to peer into the lives of people who live exciting lives and remain at a safe distance. Most writers scoff at soap operas because dialogue is "on the nose" meaning it lacks subtety or mystery. Characters say what they mean and clearly tell the story without veils or hidden meaning.
I love the Young and the Restless. I've been watching for years. Soap characters replace real friends when you stay home all the time. To the shut-ins, isolated, and the lonely, soap operas supply a real need.
Is this really any different than the kid who locks himself in his room playing video games or who spends hours on the Internet? I think not...so don't judge.
I applaud soap operas. They serve a real need and they often give out important information that helps people learn about everything from the importance of keeping your child safe in hot tubs and fire safety to medical information that can save your life.
It sure would be fun to write for a soap opera and be part of a team of writers who create.
I love the Young and the Restless. I've been watching for years. Soap characters replace real friends when you stay home all the time. To the shut-ins, isolated, and the lonely, soap operas supply a real need.
Is this really any different than the kid who locks himself in his room playing video games or who spends hours on the Internet? I think not...so don't judge.
I applaud soap operas. They serve a real need and they often give out important information that helps people learn about everything from the importance of keeping your child safe in hot tubs and fire safety to medical information that can save your life.
It sure would be fun to write for a soap opera and be part of a team of writers who create.
Dialogue
People don't talk anymore face to face.
They instant message, text message, or e-mail.
Some write in code and speak in code.
Some hint not wanting to own their words.
It would be nice to find people who talk and have opinions.
Probably the best place to find people with opinions
is in the library.
The library is filled with volumes of books standing
side by side in coexistence with a wide range of opinions.
Maybe this is why people retreat to nature to read a book.
Books don't disappoint or betray.
Maybe I should just stay home 24-7 to read, write, and garden.
They instant message, text message, or e-mail.
Some write in code and speak in code.
Some hint not wanting to own their words.
It would be nice to find people who talk and have opinions.
Probably the best place to find people with opinions
is in the library.
The library is filled with volumes of books standing
side by side in coexistence with a wide range of opinions.
Maybe this is why people retreat to nature to read a book.
Books don't disappoint or betray.
Maybe I should just stay home 24-7 to read, write, and garden.
Photos
I think I have given up adding photos to this blog. I have dial-up. I have problems sending photos to my family at any of my e-mail addresses. I've given up on this too. Dial-up stinks when you have had the taste of high speed Internet. It isn't even fun to be on the Internet anymore since everything takes so long.
Alsea
"Where in the heck is Alsea?" you ask. To which I reply, "Out in the middle of no where!" Alsea, Oregon is not incorporated so you won't find it on a map. It has about 600 people in the general area with a school serving students K through 12, a general store called John Boy's Mercantile, a gas station, a post office for zip code 97324, a library, the Hope Grange, 2 churches [Assembly of God and Baptist with a nearby Church of Christ in Lobster Valley], and a restaurant. Alsea is on Highway 34 on the scenic route to Waldport on the central Oregon coast. That's about it. I live about 2 miles from the post office. Nice people live here and the kids are the luckiest of all who go to a school where everyone has the opportunity to go on to college thanks to the Clemens Foundation set up by a timber family years ago.
Alsea, Oregon was listed in a book on the best places to retire in the United States, probably because it is unlikely that taxes will ever go up.
I always say that it takes me about an hour to drive into Corvallis because I like to leave early to make sure that I get to my destination. There are 2 1/2 miles of severe, narrow curves at Mary's Peak with a speed limit of 20 mph. You can reach Corvallis in 45 minutes but sometimes you have to wait for road construction or farm equipment rolling along at a slow crawl. The sign says that Alsea is 25 miles from Corvallis or 20 miles from Philomath, and I've checked it with my speedometer. During the snow and ice last week, I was crawling along at 10 mph to 35 mph. If all conditions are just right following all the speed laws, it is possible to almost make it to Philomath in almost 30 minutes but I like the slow, lazy, looking out the window at the trees, mountains, and scenery pace.
Alsea, Oregon was listed in a book on the best places to retire in the United States, probably because it is unlikely that taxes will ever go up.
I always say that it takes me about an hour to drive into Corvallis because I like to leave early to make sure that I get to my destination. There are 2 1/2 miles of severe, narrow curves at Mary's Peak with a speed limit of 20 mph. You can reach Corvallis in 45 minutes but sometimes you have to wait for road construction or farm equipment rolling along at a slow crawl. The sign says that Alsea is 25 miles from Corvallis or 20 miles from Philomath, and I've checked it with my speedometer. During the snow and ice last week, I was crawling along at 10 mph to 35 mph. If all conditions are just right following all the speed laws, it is possible to almost make it to Philomath in almost 30 minutes but I like the slow, lazy, looking out the window at the trees, mountains, and scenery pace.
Hydroponics
The first time that I became aware of hydroponics was when I visited Disney World for the first time in Orlando, Florida with our children, and went to Epcot Center to see the hydroponics exhibit which grows all the food for the resorts and restaurants in Disney World. It was amazing. The vertical growing techniques in nonsoil mediums in PVC pipes was exciting to witness. They grow everything you can imagine.
Later I attended a workshop through OSU Master Gardening about hydroponics and even helped out at the Oregon State Fair in Salem at the exhibit answering questions. Although I have never had a hydroponic setup at my home, I believe in hydroponics and all the possibilities to grow fresh tomatoes, herbs, and salad greens year around in your home ready for the dinner table. I would love to do this someday but can't afford the electricity for the grow lights plus my house isn't big enough for plants and two housecats to coexist.
I would love to have two windmills on our acreage that pays for all my electricity with extra left over to sell, IF I decide to stay here. I'd love to set up a greenhouse using hydroponic equipment but all this takes money.
I've never understood why our country doesn't invest in hydroponic equipment and greenhouses. There should be tax incentives. In Canada there are massive hydroponic greenhouses heated with solar energy and the same in the Middle East. With our water shortages throughout the United States and the need for fresh food, why don't we do it here? Hydroponics uses 1/30th the water because it recycles the water. The growth rates are up to 10 times that of soil gardening. It works and it uses less space.
Later I attended a workshop through OSU Master Gardening about hydroponics and even helped out at the Oregon State Fair in Salem at the exhibit answering questions. Although I have never had a hydroponic setup at my home, I believe in hydroponics and all the possibilities to grow fresh tomatoes, herbs, and salad greens year around in your home ready for the dinner table. I would love to do this someday but can't afford the electricity for the grow lights plus my house isn't big enough for plants and two housecats to coexist.
I would love to have two windmills on our acreage that pays for all my electricity with extra left over to sell, IF I decide to stay here. I'd love to set up a greenhouse using hydroponic equipment but all this takes money.
I've never understood why our country doesn't invest in hydroponic equipment and greenhouses. There should be tax incentives. In Canada there are massive hydroponic greenhouses heated with solar energy and the same in the Middle East. With our water shortages throughout the United States and the need for fresh food, why don't we do it here? Hydroponics uses 1/30th the water because it recycles the water. The growth rates are up to 10 times that of soil gardening. It works and it uses less space.
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