Bullfrog & Painted Turtle

Call my cruel and inhumane, but I removed a bullfrog and a cute, painted turtle from the lake at my parent's cottage to the pond in my backyard.  I couldn't resist having an amphibian and reptile hanging out in my backyard oasis.  They were easy to catch--just went out in the paddle boat with a wee net.  I feel slightly guilty about removing the bullfrog and turtle from their natural habitat, but I think what I got going in the backyard is pretty swank and I will be providing tasty feeder goldfish and turtle food if the critters decide my accommodations are suitable.  The bullfrog already popped out of the pond and hopped around.  I hope he sticks.  The turtle is obviously not as mobile, but I'm sure he can escape the area too if he puts his little turtle mind to it.  I just hope I see them around tomorrow because I didn't get any pictures yet...dang!

It was a nice little visit up at the cottage.  I slept really well and got to sleep in because my kids weren't waking me up at 6:30.  I miss them though.  Think I might go see The Great Gatsby tonight.  Seeing films are another one of those things that you can't do as easily with kids.

Happy Memorial Day. 

Checking In

Olson's wedding was a success with tons of food, some good dancing, and some fun conversation.  I decided not to stay at the hotel because I missed my family, so I drove home last night at 1:15 a.m.  I had a good amount to drink early, but I think I ate so much that I sobered up quickly.  I felt fine and not sleepy so I left.  Plank road was quite desolate which was nice.  Some strange black furry creature, perhaps a sasquatch stumbled in the road, but other than that, the trip was uneventful and I got to sleep next to Carly in my own bed.  

I also got to wake up (with a slight hangover) and see the boys before the go to Grammy Renee's.  I am headed to the cottage for some Hill bonding time.

Later.

Friday Nuptials

Headed to a colleague's wedding tonight in Schaumburg.  I have to say, I enjoy me a good wedding.  Gin & Tonic is my typical wedding concoction and only once or twice has it led me wrong.  On one of those memorable wedding nights I ended up weeping from drunken joy when the lights came on at 1:00 in the morning.  I was having so much fun and didn't want the night to end.  The pictures are entertaining.  

I don't foresee that happening tonight, but it will be fun hanging out with the English department and putting back a few beverages.  The school year is almost done.  Let the Memorial Day Weekend begin.

Out of the Wild: The Alaska Experiment

Just got done watching the eight episodes of Out of the Wild: The Alaska Experiment.  Watched five last night and three tonight.  It was a good show and definitely went along with the book I just finished Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why.

Anyway, a group of nine people have to trek through the Alaskan wilderness, hunt game, and attempt to survive.  It's an interesting show and does a good job of capturing just how harsh the natural world can be.  I'm a sucker for this type of reality t.v. even though it felt like the entire show revolved around the phrase: "their bodies are burning through 4,000 calories a day, and the meagre meal of (squirrel, duck, pteregin, trout, porcupine, etc) only provides a fraction of their food needs.  They are starving."  In every episode, I swear, a variation of that phrase was uttered.

An interesting tidbit in the show was the character of John.  He seemed to be one of the most determined, most prepared, and most entertaining characters in my opinion.  On the seventh show John mentions his boyfriend and how he draws strength from a letter from him.  Ok.  Cool.  My "gaydar" was obviously not working since I did not foresee him being gay.  I fully realize one's sexuality has little to nothing to do with how one goes about surviving in Alaska, but I still think it is interesting that he is gay.  After the "reveal" in the show, it seemed that the show played up his sexuality a bit more and I said to myself, "well, sure...it's obvious."  The producers of this show did a nice job of "setting me up" to question any lingering prejudices I had.  I don't know if I didn't know because it has nothing to do with anything, or if it's because my mind was a bit constricted.

It's a timely connection since the boy scouts are hopefully now allowing openly gay scouts...adult scout leaders...that is something the scouts, unfortunately, don't seem ready for yet.  We can hope.  Anyway, enough for tonight.  I'm sleepy and am thankful for all the food I can eat.

Dishes, Dishes, Everywhere and Not A Clean One in Sight

This is what our kitchen looks like when we don't empty the dishwasher for two days.  It's amazing just how many utensils, dishes, cups and glasses we have.  I have often wondered what would happen if we try the Zen method out.  What if we each had one spoon, fork, plate, bowl, and glass?  Of course it would lead to more frequent washing and I think it would stop the small disaster pictured above from happening.  But perhaps we would get bogged down doing that too.  I don't know.  I tend to think that less is more, but I don't always live that way.  Got to love modern life!

Astounding!

"If we all did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves." Thomas Edison.

This is the quote of the day on my chalkboard today.  I know, I know, shouldn't I have a white board by now, or even a smart board?  We go ol' school in room B133.  Anyway, the students are taking the post-assessment which involves an in-class essay.  I tried to motivate them to do the best they could, but I am a little worried about the results.  We shall see on Thursday when we mark them.  Needless to say, even though they are capable of writing well, I am not so sure their efforts are going to be astounding.  The students are ready for summer up in here!  Sitting in a warm classroom and writing for 45 minutes on a topic they don't care that much about did not really do it for them, even though it was 10 percent of their grade.

Ahhh, Tommy Edison, the Electric Sunshine Man.  In my fifteen minutes of fame when I was 10 years old I was the lead in the school play.  I can still recall the music and some of my lines.  I was the Wizard of Menlo Park, Thomas Edison himself.  I have memories of the play because I've seen it on VHS tape a few times, but I also can vividly recall being up on the stage.  I got to hang out on a ladder in between parts of scenes and I remember having a blast.  

I need to do more astounding things.  I know I am capable of a lot.  I just need to harness the necessary energy.  Well, that's about all for now.  Adieu!

  

Rhubarb Pie

Made my first rhubarb pie about an hour ago.  How simple.  How delicious.  It could be my thing.  I could be the rhubarb pie guy.  I like it.  Here's a picture of my pie after Carly and I ate a slice each.

I was admiring the huge rhubarb leaves wondering if they were edible.  They are not.  Apparently they are full of Oxalic Acid which can be a natural pesticide; aphids find 'em yucky.  I might try making that pesticide mixture too.  I could be an aphid destroyer superhero--the exterminator!

Anyway, I have been at the blog for a week.  I realize I am mostly writing to myself, but that's ok, I guess.  Speaking of ok...after watching Silver Linings Playbook, they reference the origins of the word  "ok."  Here's what I found: The oldest written references result from its use as a slogan by the Democratic party during the American Presidential election of 1840. Their candidate, President Martin Van Buren, was nicknamed 'Old Kinderhook' (after his birthplace in New York State), and his supporters formed the 'OK Club'. This undoubtedly helped to popularize the term (though it did not get President Van Buren re-elected).