As I was helping out with the Business Expo today, I decided to take a break right before closing. Todd and I walked around a few aisles of the different booths and stopped at the Spinal Rehabilitation's booth when we saw that not only were they offering a free 5 minutes massage, but they were using some new-fangled machine to do a quick readjustment on backs. For anyone who knows me, you can understand why I would wait in line for such an opportunity. I am always looking for a way to get my blasted rib (which has been out for a very long time) back into place without spending a ton 'o' cash. I was pretty impressed with the whole process and the pricing and will probably be going into the clinic during the near future, funds allowing.
It was during the time that I was watching the whole process being done on another lady that a little boy, probably only about 5/6 years old, came up to me and handed me one of the Kit Kat bars being given away by another booth. It was so random that I had to chuckle, when the thought of why he might do this came to me. I could just imagine his thought process:
"Uh-oh, chubby girl. I'd better give her some chocolate before she eats me."
And at that thought, I chuckled, again.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Our Beater Vehicles
I have to preface this by stating that I am glad that both Todd and I drive older vehicles and that they are paid off. A car payment is not an added financial burden that I would like to have right now. That said, I still do not appreciate the joys of cars that break down because they are old enough to be my parents (OK, not really).
This past week, on the car alone, we found that we needed to replace the battery, starter, ignition switch, something on the frame and a couple tires. Mind you, we just replaced the CV joint just a little while ago. Thank Heavens for mechanic brother-in-laws and dads who know their way around an engine. Both of mine have been willing to help Todd work on the car, although he replaced the starter and the battery by himself the other day.
As for the ignition switch...well, it's kind of important to be able to start the car. However, to fix that, we have to take the whole steering column apart. Who has time for that? So instead, we are saving that project for a sunnier day and Todd and my bro-in-law bypassed the ignition switch with wiring and created a start button in the car. It's real classy when we have to reach down below the steering wheel and hotwire our car to go anywhere.
So if you see me starting my blue car, I promise, I'm not lifting it. And as for the question of why don't we get another car? If we can find one that's cheap enough, we might be able to swing it, but I sure do have sentimental feelings for my Grandpa Blue car that was inherited from my brother. I don't know if we'll ever get rid of it.
This past week, on the car alone, we found that we needed to replace the battery, starter, ignition switch, something on the frame and a couple tires. Mind you, we just replaced the CV joint just a little while ago. Thank Heavens for mechanic brother-in-laws and dads who know their way around an engine. Both of mine have been willing to help Todd work on the car, although he replaced the starter and the battery by himself the other day.
As for the ignition switch...well, it's kind of important to be able to start the car. However, to fix that, we have to take the whole steering column apart. Who has time for that? So instead, we are saving that project for a sunnier day and Todd and my bro-in-law bypassed the ignition switch with wiring and created a start button in the car. It's real classy when we have to reach down below the steering wheel and hotwire our car to go anywhere.
So if you see me starting my blue car, I promise, I'm not lifting it. And as for the question of why don't we get another car? If we can find one that's cheap enough, we might be able to swing it, but I sure do have sentimental feelings for my Grandpa Blue car that was inherited from my brother. I don't know if we'll ever get rid of it.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Week 2 at Work
I have now officially been working with the Census Bureau for 1 week, going on 2. So far we have done a TON of training and learned tasks for multiple positions. Because I am part of quality control, we do a bit more training than the census takers, and it has been pretty interesting.
It has also been interesting to watch the blogs and posts about the Census as it is getting closer to CENSUS DAY, when the call centers go live. There are so many fallacies and ridiculous rumors going around about how the census is gathering information that will be used to manipulate the public, find out personal information about us, etc. Wow. All I can say is that people really need to do their own research
To sum up the answers to the fears out there, no, the Census is not a ploy to exploit the American public. There is one every 10 years and has been since the creation of our nation (haha...creation of nation rhymes). The information gathered is used for many of the statistics that we hear, fund allocation and most importantly, to decide how many representatives each state is allowed.
ALSO, anyone working with the Census has to sign very strict confidentiality contracts, which if broken, are punishable by prison time and huge fines. These contracts are lifelong and do not even allow the people's names to be mentioned to a non-Census worker. Information gathered will only be released in the form of statistics, with no personal information being used. In fact, no other government agencies are allowed access to the personal information, not even the President. In several decades the details will be released to the general public and used mainly for genealogical purposes. I'm sure many of you are familiar with this method of family history research.
I think the whole process is very cool and very well organized. It'll be nice when we finally get out of the training process and officially start work. AND I hope that people will be nice and do their civic duty by filling out their questionnaires.
It has also been interesting to watch the blogs and posts about the Census as it is getting closer to CENSUS DAY, when the call centers go live. There are so many fallacies and ridiculous rumors going around about how the census is gathering information that will be used to manipulate the public, find out personal information about us, etc. Wow. All I can say is that people really need to do their own research
To sum up the answers to the fears out there, no, the Census is not a ploy to exploit the American public. There is one every 10 years and has been since the creation of our nation (haha...creation of nation rhymes). The information gathered is used for many of the statistics that we hear, fund allocation and most importantly, to decide how many representatives each state is allowed.
ALSO, anyone working with the Census has to sign very strict confidentiality contracts, which if broken, are punishable by prison time and huge fines. These contracts are lifelong and do not even allow the people's names to be mentioned to a non-Census worker. Information gathered will only be released in the form of statistics, with no personal information being used. In fact, no other government agencies are allowed access to the personal information, not even the President. In several decades the details will be released to the general public and used mainly for genealogical purposes. I'm sure many of you are familiar with this method of family history research.
I think the whole process is very cool and very well organized. It'll be nice when we finally get out of the training process and officially start work. AND I hope that people will be nice and do their civic duty by filling out their questionnaires.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Valentine's Prep
I can't decide how I feel about this Valentine's creation. We made "Love Bug" Valentines for Jessica to hand out to her class, but Kailey didn't really want anything crafty. I hate not going all out for the holidays, so I told Kailey that I would create a card for her that involved our animals, which are her passion.
This is the card that I whipped up in Photoshop. I'm not sure what I think about it. Can I get some feedback?
This is the card that I whipped up in Photoshop. I'm not sure what I think about it. Can I get some feedback?
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Monthly Projects
Every month the girls have a monthly project assigned to them in school. So far we have done reports, created projects for constellations, created picture books and even a Grecian urn depicting our version of the birth of Aphrodite (or Venus). This last month the girls had to learn all of the major Greek Gods' counterparts in Roman mythology.
So their project was just a test, but we attacked it with the same vigor that we have with every other project. We created a game of memory with the Greek and Roman names that had matching symbols. We played memory and used them as flash cards; the girls practicing while they were at their mom's house, as well.
It definitely paid off in the end, because both girls got 107% on their tests! I am so proud of them.
This month they are studying Medieval history and have to create PowerPoint presentations. One of the girls' topics is period clothing and the other is the code of chivalry. It should be fun. Both topics are great.
So their project was just a test, but we attacked it with the same vigor that we have with every other project. We created a game of memory with the Greek and Roman names that had matching symbols. We played memory and used them as flash cards; the girls practicing while they were at their mom's house, as well.
It definitely paid off in the end, because both girls got 107% on their tests! I am so proud of them.
This month they are studying Medieval history and have to create PowerPoint presentations. One of the girls' topics is period clothing and the other is the code of chivalry. It should be fun. Both topics are great.
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