Not Again! Part 2

 Remember the drill bit that was in my tire back in January? Well, last week I noticed a slow leak and I have had to add air three times since then. Today, I went to the tire place again. The dude looked at me funny, I smiled at him. ” I think I have something in my tire again.” I said. He tilted his head a bit and had a puzzled look on his face. “I was in a few months ago, you guys pulled a drill bit out of my tire.” I added. “Oh yeah! I remember you now! It was an entire drill bit! That was something! Whatcha got this time?” He said. 

 I told him I didn’t even bother to look because, you know, this shit is getting old. But while your at it, why don’t you rotate them for me.

 Behold! A sheet metal screw! Now I have a fresh plug and they are rotated.

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Ten Things Tuesday

Some more random things;

1. I needed a new propane tank for my grill but put off buying one. Wouldn’t ya know, someone I know decided that grilling isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and gave their tank to me! Saved me 40 bucks!

2. I have been reading Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth. I am totally digging it and am realizing that I have a bit of an ego problem. Not ego in the sense that I think I am great (I know I am!), but in who I think I am and what I do to make that true. Anybody reading the book? Let’s talk about it! My boss has been a great help in the past week at helping me apply what I have learned!

3. Some of my clients have been doing some super great things in the last couple of weeks. My job is to show them the tools and teach them to use them. Their job is to do all the work. They have been and it sure is good to see.

4. I have completed most of my stuff for the super expensive college I want to go to. All I have left is the essay. No problem, I’ll have it done by the end of the day.

5. Speaking of college stuff, I finished my paper and turned it in. I sent it off to Chilli for her to rip apart. Remember, I haven’t been in school since 1991. I really just wanted to make sure it was ok. Surprisingly, she didn’t rip it apart. She said I had a few mechanical errors and she didn’t like the way I worded a couple of things. Incidentally, the wording she didn’t like didn’t sit well with me either and I changed some of it before she had a chance to tell me what she thought. I’m not entirely convinced that she wasn’t just going easy on me because it was my first paper or if it really was that good. I know it was good but I also know Chilli is pretty tough..

6. My stuff is starting to grow. Three tomatoes and three basil. Auntie Teacher asked for peppers. Auntie Teacher has grown stuff for me in the past so I am happy to return the favor! She also got arugula. Yuck! Anyway, they are poking through too!

7. I must confess, I am writing this on Monday. I know I don’t have to write it on Tuesday, but I just wanted to be up front about it. I am currently in my computer class trying not to walk out of this dreadful class learning how to send an email. It’s really not so bad. I did learn how to use tabs. Really, I had no idea how to use tabs.

8. MST, are you really checking in on my blog? While I’m calling you out, you forgot to call me when you got back from Vt… You wanna have lunch sometime this week?

9. The Sox are currently tied for first with the Rays and O’s. Baltimore has a habit of starting the season off strong and then tanking big time. The Rays are a bit of a surprise to me. They just beat us in all three games. It’s been a tough couple of weeks for the Sox. The flu has been making it’s rounds and we have a couple of injuries. The good news is Mike should be back soon. I continue to have serious concerns about Big Papi. He was walking through the club house saying “I am not frustrated!” Dude, don’t do that. Please don’t use any negative words at all. Try this; “I am a hitting machine!” He was so eager to get a hit that he slid head first into first. Nobody slides into first. He ended up bruising his knee. I fear that my statement about him coming out of his slump was a bit premature. He will eventually be ok though.

10. Can someone please explain to me why, with all the snow we had this past winter, the fire danger has been so high? We have had several brush fires recently and I just don’t get it.

Another Blog Worthy Email

 SLM2 sent this to me;

Dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.

 
One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education.
He argued, “What’s a kid going to learn from someone who
decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?”
He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about
teachers: “Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach.”
 To stress his point he said to another guest;
 “You’re a teacher, Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?”
 
Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied,
 “You want to know what I make? (She paused for a second, then began…)
 “Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.

 I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor.

 I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their
parents can’t make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental.
 
You want to know what I make?”
(She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table.) 
 
”I make kids wonder.

 I make them question.

 I make them apologize and mean it.

 I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.

 I teach them to write and then I make them write. Keyboarding isn’t everything.

 I make them read, read, read.

 I make them show all their work in math. They use their God given brain.
 
 I make my students from other countries learn everything they need  to know in English while preserving their unique cultural identity.

 I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.

 I make my students stand, placing their hand over their heart to say  the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, One Nation Under God, because we live in the United States of America.

Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they
were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life.”(Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.)

 “Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn’t everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant… You want to know what I make?

 I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What do you make Mr. CEO?”

 His jaw dropped, he went silent.
 

Oops

 Did anyone notice that some of the pictures in some of my older posts have disappeared? Why didn’t you tell me? I may or may not go back and put them back in. I thought I would clean out the pictures in my wordpress gallery. Apparently when you take the pictures out of the gallery they also are removed from your post. Who knew? You did? Well why the hell didn’t you warn me of that? 

 Wait a minuet! Maybe they are there! Maybe it’s a problem with my computer because one that was not there a second ago is there now.. Can someone please scroll down a ways and have a look? Thanks.

Ten Things Tuesday

 Ten things about my research paper that is due tomorrow;

1. Religion and Psychology is a difficult topic. It has been emotionally exhausting to write.

2. I have had a difficult time writing about what conservative Christians have to say about homosexuality. They say homosexuality is “unnatural”. Writing about it being “unnatural” felt unnatural. And icky.

3. I am profoundly grateful that I was not raised in a religious household. The coming out process would have been more difficult than it already was.

4. I have several friends who were raised Catholic. For most of them, it is still very difficult to talk about. My friends, who are in their mid to late thirties, continue to struggle with their relationship with God. Although I believe that everything happens for a reason and that people are exactly where they need to be, I wish the spiritual road was a little less bumpy for them.

5. Some people still believe that homosexuality is a mental disorder than can be, and should be cured. They call it “reparative” or “conversion” therapy. Ugh

6.

7. I continue to believe that every person has a right to believe what they want to believe. My feeling is if it works for you, great! I do have a problem with people pushing their beliefs on to other people and trying to make them wrong, especially to the point where it can cause another person harm. It has been said that gay and lesbian teens are twice as likely to attempt suicide than their straight peers. I’m not ok with that.

8. There are so many things that the bible says that people just don’t follow or care about anymore. The following video illustrates my point;

I continue to wonder why some people dig their heals in over this issue. What are they so afraid of?

9. I have heard and read over and over again that although some Christians don’t approve of gay and lesbian people, they do love us. I’m sorry, but no one who loves me has ever said I should be ashamed of my sexuality, that they won’t accept me for who I am, that I should try to change who I am.

10. I continue to believe in creation. God created the whole ball of wax. He/she is the big guy/gal. I believe, very firmly, that if God didn’t want there to be homosexuality, there simply would not be homosexuality. I feel like people who say otherwise are questioning God’s “power”. What? It’s a choice you say? Why don’t you go ahead and try to be gay for a day and see how that works out for ya. Go ahead, I’ll wait. We can talk about this whole choice thing then.

 

Run MST, Run!

My friend MST is running the Boston Marathon today. She is running to raise money for Dana Farber. Dana Farber is close to her heart; she lost her dad to leukemia. It’s not too late to make a donation. If you would like to send some money her way, let me know. If not, send some good thoughts her way, she is running 26 frickin miles!

The Big Man Is Back

 Big Papi has been in a big slump. Last night he was at bat with a bases loaded situation. I thought to myself that in the past, we could count on him to at least drive a couple of those runners in. I was not so sure he was going to be able to do that last night. I immediately thought that the emotional implications of him getting an out would be devastating to his already damaged psyche. I work with emotions people, this is what I think about. No sooner did I think that, he takes the first pitch and deposits it into the Monstah seats! Grand Slam!

 I pick up the phone and call Mr. Chili. We often call each other for the big plays. This one was huge. He picks up the phone and says “Sweeeeeet!” Not “Hello?”, not “Chili residence”, but “Sweeeeet!”.

 I knew he would eventually break out of this slump. He is much to good not to. I love to watch this guy hit but more than that, I love his happy go lucky attitude. He hasen’t been so happy lately. I think now he will be back to his old self. Watching him should be fun again!

Photo credit, which is the actual picture of him hoping, praying,and begging that the ball would go out of the pahk!

F-F Friday

 My contribution to F-F Friday. These were taken about two years ago in Catalina Island, CA. It was so beautiful there even though there was not much in bloom.

 
 

What Did You Do At Work Today?

 My day started by driving around in circles trying to find pahking. I was unsuccessful so I drove to the local office (not my office) and asked one of the girls there to give me a ride to the court house. She was happy to help and she told me to call her when I was done. I said I would except my cell phone was in the cah because you can’t bring your phone into the court house..

 I sat in court for two hours only to find out my clients case would be continued. Again. Ugh. I hoofed it about a mile back to the office and tried to order a sandwich from the deli. They were closed for the next 1/2 hour. I then went back to the office and had a chat with one of the outreach guys. We talked baseball. He is from Porto Rico and has a thick accent. I like talking to him. “What da fook hapen to da Red Soox last night!” He said. Funny.

 Anyway, DPH was there and it turns out, when they are there we get free lunch. Your tax dollars at work. Thanks for the BLT.

 After that, I went to see a client in her home town. She lives in a great coastal town that before this year, I had never been to. We had planned to go for a walk the week before and since the weather was nice, we were able to keep our plan. Walking is very therapeutic. I am walking with my clients as much as possible or at least outside with them. It’s a much more comfortable environment for them then in some office.

 

 This was one of the views we had on our walk today. As we we were walking, she was talking about some of the things the tourists do. I told her I would only take one picture so she wouldn’t feel embarrassed hanging with a tourist.

 We probably walked 3 miles today. Add in my mile from court and that equals a pretty decent workout. And I got paid for it. Another reason why I love my job.

 

Tips For Visiting

 I thought of a couple of more things that seem to be exclusive to Massachusetts;

“In like Flynn.”

 This is in reference to former Boston Mayor Ray Flynn. I think, because the way it was used, that it means it’s a sure thing. For example, “Dude, did you get the tickets to the sox game?” “We’re in like Flynn!” I said. Maybe someone who has a few more years on me can confirm if this is the correct usage.. Stop the press!I just googled the phrase and I am WRONG. Go here. Another thing my parents lied about.. So, do you non mass people say it??

 I still say this and people sometimes look at me funny. As luck would have it, a client just called me with a question about excise tax. I had no idea how to answer  her question so I referred her to someone else. For shits and giggles I asked her if she had ever heard or used the expression “In like Flynn”. She had and gave an example; “If you say to your friend that you are going for a job interview and you nervous about it and your friend says ‘Don’t worry about it, you’re in like Flynn!'” I asked her if she knew it’s origins. She had no idea and had no idea who Ray Flynn is. Funny. Stop the press again! I told her the wrong answer. Ugh.

“Good luck too you  and the Red Sox!”

 This was said with almost a religious over tone. Kind of like when some one says “God bless you!” and you didn’t sneeze. We are pretty passionate about our baseball in these parts.  It means that what you are about to do is nearly imposable. Just like the Sox winning the World Series before 2004. I don’t say this as much anymore.

 Do you non New Englanders know what a jug handle is?

 Don’t call it the Mass Pike. It’s just The Pike.

 The things you put on your ice cream are Jimmies, not sprinkles.

Do not say “Pahk the cah in Havhad yahd.” We don’t think that is funny. It’s even less funny if you ask us to say it. Also, it’s a sure way to announce you are from out of town. You will leave us with no choice but to give you the wrong directions.

 Can anyone add too my list?

 Because I know you have come to expect it, here is another picture of your beloved Mike Lowel. This may be from the day he hurt his thumb..

 Sorry it is so small…

Photo credit