reason number 761...

... why I don't need no stinkin' minivan.

This is the best cupholder!

Ah, comfy cozy blog. It's been too long!

I don't have any good excuses other than the usual "... well, been kinda busy...." But it's nice to be here now. Meego and I are enjoying a nice day off from school. It's actually a pretty decent mid-March kind of day.

I am attempting to upload a video that Wolfgang made, but it's taking for-EV-er. I actually don't think it's going to make it. Blogger keeps saying "uploading video", but I'm starting to think it's just leading me on. *sigh*. Story of my life?

In the meantime, Meego and I took advantage of the nice day and went for a short bike ride. I was positively giddy when I discovered that my frequent drinker 16-oz. coffee cup from Diamond Shamrock fits like a glove in my bicycle water bottle cage! Am I easy to please, or WHAT?!

I wasn't even in the mood for a cup o' joe, but it's the principle of the thing.

And I haven't actually created a list of 761+ reasons why I don't need a minivan, but I'm sure I could come up with one.
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warning

Happy Illustration Friday on Saturday! This week's prompt is "warning", so I made this Public Service Announcement.

I've been a school crossing guard for about 2 months now. My latest trick is to stand and point my cell phone at the speeders. It makes them think I'm filming them and usually has the desired effect of slowing traffic down. It has yet to have the undesired effect of pissing someone off to the point of them getting out of their car to beat me up and/or smash my phone.

And... I am now well stocked with candy. But not every shift. It's best to keep them guessing.
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testing... testing...

It's state assessment test time here in Colorado. Makes for a little different atmosphere at school. So, I'm a test proctor for a couple of students that get special accomodations.

This is typically seen as a dull assignment - watching kids take tests, but I'm rather enjoying it. For one, since these two require accomodations, I'm a more active participant. I read the test to them, all the directions, all the questions. Being the test geek that I am, that's actually kind of fun. Additionally, I'm enjoying working with tese two. They're typical 5th grade boys. Kinda goofy, not very serious, not big on test-taking.

But they're soldiering on well, knowing what's expected of them, testing my limits occassionally. I think we've got each other figured out now. I think I'll actually miss this when it's over next week.

Yesterday, we were doing a writing session - clearly neither of their favorite activities. But, in typical fashion, they performed their due dilligence. At one point in the excitement, one of the kids summoned me. Naturally, assessment test rules state no talking between students, and no distractions to others, so he was accordingly and quietly obeying.

I leaned over to assist in what was surely a highly important assessment test issue needing resolving.

The issue, in *whispers* :

"The old crossing guard... used to give us candy sometimes"

Good to know.
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the barber

Remember that part in Moonstruck? Where Cher meets the young and awesome Nicholas Cage at the opera?

I do. I remember thinking, "WOW, what a cool date!!" And I also remember thinking, "Yeah, like I'M ever gonna go to the opera..."

Well, last night, I did!

A few weeks ago, Meego reported that they were learning about opera in his TAG reading class, and that they would have the opportunity to go see an actual opera in a few weeks. What? Sure enough, his teacher sent home a letter about a local special "school night" presentation of "The Barber of Seville". In the meantime, they studied that particular Rossini opera and were offered specially priced tickets to go if they wanted to.

Well, Meego wanted to. The teacher would chaperone, but there were a few tickets available for parents, so I jumped on one myself, and last night was our big "date".

I've never been to an opera before and wasn't sure what to expect. My knowledge of "The Barber of Seville" was limited to a Rossini CD we have and the classic Bugs Bunny rendition.

It was wonderful! And who knew that "The Barber of Seville" has nothing to do with rabbit hunting?!

Anyway, we both enjoyed ourselves and this was something we SO don't do. Got dressed up. Went downtown on a Friday night. To the opera! Some of Meego's school friends of the female persuasion got a kick out of seeing him in a tie. This from the kid who is all t-shirts all the time. Seriously. He will NOT wear buttons, let alone a tie.

But for the opera he did.

It wasn't a young Nick Cage in a tux, but it was still special.
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swarm

Happy Illustration Friday Saturday! This week's prompt is "swarm" and I did this quick sketch of birds at the trough.

We used to have bird feeders, which soon became cat feeders - if y'know what I'm sayin'. Didn't seem very nice.

individuality

I was back at the police station this week. I got a letter a week or so ago that said my first round of fingerprints didn't quite cut it for the CBI and FBI. Sheesh.

Apparently, this happens quite often, so I'm not the only one to feel unhuman. There's not a whole lot going on at work right now. State assessment tests start next week, so we're just looking to get those over and done with. It's so dull, I decided that going to the police station to get fingerprinted was the most productive use of my time.

I arrived and it was the usual waiting area cast of school employees, foster parent applicants, and criminals. Hard to say who was which. A few people got up to go outside and smoke a cigarette and/or make phone calls. One cigarette smoking woman did a few yoga-like stretches while hauling on her cigarette. Not a common sight.

Me, I decided to actually read the fingerprinting information materials. Word to the wise: bring a book or doodle pad if you ever need to get fingerprinted. Anyway, I learned that certain things can cause fingerprints to wear down to the point of not being good enough for the FBI. Two I remember are "age" and "hobbies".

I'm going to ignore the "age" thing and chalk it up to too much fingerpainting as a professional child.
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don't need no stinkin' TV

I've confessed here before that I don't watch much TV, although I have tried. Really. I have.

I don't watch Oprah, I don't watch American Idol, I don't watch CSI:Anywhere - none of it. I just find it all so... so... so... BORING. And sometimes, it actually makes me angry, as in "The Bachelor" is SO not how to find a life partner! And who was voted off of "Dancing with the Stars" is SO not headline news!

But I can deal with it. That said, I do actually enjoy a good NOVA episode now and then. Geek much?

I typically have a book or two going, though. I can start one, and if it is a total yawner, I have no qualms about not finishing it. Right now, I'm reading "Water for Elephants". It was just recently made into a movie and an ad for it popped up on the computer one day. Wolfgang happened to be nearby and he suggested I read the book, then Magnum and I go see the movie. I think he's just trying to get rid of us for a while, but whatever, I decided to check the book out.

And, lo and behold, I actually like it! I can't remember the last novel I actually finished and I've just a few pages left. I'm looking forward to seeing the movie. While I read, it was hard for me to see pretty Boy Robert Pattinson as the lead. I just think of him as Vampire Edward, but he may just pull it off.

So anyway, I highly recommend it. Turn off the TV and read this book instead.

In movie news, we recently watched Prince of Persia. It's not bad for family viewing - there's something for everyone: Magic and Battles, Muscles and Boobs... Although I was left wondering why it was that the people of ancient Persia all spoke with British accents, but I guess that's how it goes in Hollywood.

Magnum and I also recently watched Rory O'Shea Was Here and liked it too. It was funny and sad and touching and thought provoking, and I liked all of the main characters. It was rated R, I guess just for a few F-bombs, but really, that's a stretch. Good flick.

What's in your bookshelf and DVD player?
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