A few weeks ago, the beginning of the school year spelled the end of summer. No more lazy evenings, lingering over dinner. No more unsettled days, ungoverned by the calendar.
Today, Labor Day, is often seen as the last day of summer. One last chance to go to the lake house, out on the boat, to the summer cabin in the wood or to the local community pool.
The official end of summer is September 20/21 with the Autumnal Equinox. By then in some parts of the country it will be well and truly cool and perhaps frosty.
This summer has been different than most. My birthday in peak summer, was cool and unseasonably pleasant. My cake did not melt. L's birthday was likewise cool and pleasant. I do not recall as pleasant a birthday since my summer spent in Germany.
In reality thought, I do not think seasons end exactly, I think they gradual fade. Flowing like water into the next season. I think they linger and morph, effortlessly one into the other. Easing back and surging forward. Whispers of what is to come and echos of what has been laid to rest.
Just as the tide comes and returns out, so do the seasons change.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Audience Particpation
Please take my survey. This is for my MBA Business Research class. You can copy and paste it in an email or copy it and paste it in the comments section of this blog. Thanks!
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Instructions
Please review the chart provided and answer the following questions, based only on the information provided in the paragraph and each chart.
AFLAC Accident Plan
The accident plan is designed to help cover the expenses associated with an accidental injury. Accidents range from food poisoning and sprained ankles to something more serious like a car accident. The plan pays money directly to you if you, your spouse or child has an injury. You can use this money for whatever you wish and it is paid even if your medical plan pays all of the doctor or hospital bills.
| Employee | $ 12.05 per Bi-monthly paycheck |
| Employee + Child(ren) | $ 17.55 per Bi-monthly paycheck |
| Employee + Spouse | $ 16.15 per Bi-monthly paycheck |
| Employee + Spouse + Child(ren) | $ 21.65 per Bi-monthly paycheck |
| 1) | | Based upon the example above, I would rate AFLAC supplemental Accident plan insurance as: |
| | a. | A good value |
| | b. | A reasonable value |
| | c. | Not at all a value |
| 2) | | Based upon the example above, I would find the option of AFLAC supplemental Accident plan insurance: |
| | a. | As an attractive option in the benefits menu |
| | b. | As an interesting option in benefits menu |
| | c. | As no value in the benefits menu |
| 3) | | Based upon the information above, How likely would you be to purchase AFLAC supplemental accident insurance |
| | a. | Very Likely |
| | b. | Likely |
| | c. | Not at all likely |
| 4) | | Would knowing that AFLAC pays most claims within one business day make you: |
| | a. | more Likely to purchase a policy |
| | b. | Less likely to purchase a policy |
| | c. | Not at all likely to purchase a policy |
| 5) | | Purchasing an AFLAC accident supplemental policy would not impact the cost of your health insurance or its coverage. AFLAC supplemental insurance is additional insurance. Is having the option to purchase additional insurance something which adds value to the benefits menu available to you currently? |
| | a. | Very valuable |
| | b. | Somewhat valuable |
| | c. | Not valuable at all |
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Modest Mouse Rocks
I was blown away when I saw them in Cincinnati last summer. The rocked the house at Bogarts. It was a dark intimate setting and they were crammed onto the stage. It was amazing to see them play and play together so well.
Last night, outside under a beautiful August, if not unseasonably cool, sky I was awed again. From the opening song, Satin in a coffin, to the very end, they played a tight show and were on.
I am not a musician. In fact L asked me, when she was 2.5 to just please stop singing. It is bad, I have no musical sense. But I know what I like and I think since my musical ear is so off, I feel the music more than I hear it. It is transportive. It was no different last night.
I think that the guys of Modest Mouse, are musicians more than performers. Sure there was some dancing around, but there was no costume changes and no nonsense. It is just hard driving music. Throughout the night, I was forming something in my head and it finally hit me as they played their last song. It appeared Isaac was making love, with great passion to his guitar. Now I know, you are all shaking your heads, but really, it is as if he and the other band members are so in harmony (oh bad pun) or in sync with their instrument. It is as if they are one.
I love this when music comes from this place. This soul deep place, where it is not just sound but feelings and I do not mean sensations, although you can feel the music on your skin, but I mean where you feel it and see it with your minds eye and it just has to come out.
L thinks many of the Modest Mouse songs are angry. I think she is correct. I also think that the songs are resonant with those searching. There is a searching quality to them.
H naturally had to work this weekend, so I took a friend with, me who had never paid Modest Mouse much attention. I think last night changed that.
The only drawback to the overall show, was the smoke. I swear everyone there was smoking and not MJ - that I might have enjoyed that cloud by proxy, but no they were smoking cigarettes like a turn of the century Industrial smoke stack. The couple in front of us in the grass, killed an entire pack of camels. Ugh!
I could have lived without the cloud!
But it sure was nice to see Modest Mouse, living out loud.
Last night, outside under a beautiful August, if not unseasonably cool, sky I was awed again. From the opening song, Satin in a coffin, to the very end, they played a tight show and were on.
I am not a musician. In fact L asked me, when she was 2.5 to just please stop singing. It is bad, I have no musical sense. But I know what I like and I think since my musical ear is so off, I feel the music more than I hear it. It is transportive. It was no different last night.
I think that the guys of Modest Mouse, are musicians more than performers. Sure there was some dancing around, but there was no costume changes and no nonsense. It is just hard driving music. Throughout the night, I was forming something in my head and it finally hit me as they played their last song. It appeared Isaac was making love, with great passion to his guitar. Now I know, you are all shaking your heads, but really, it is as if he and the other band members are so in harmony (oh bad pun) or in sync with their instrument. It is as if they are one.
I love this when music comes from this place. This soul deep place, where it is not just sound but feelings and I do not mean sensations, although you can feel the music on your skin, but I mean where you feel it and see it with your minds eye and it just has to come out.
L thinks many of the Modest Mouse songs are angry. I think she is correct. I also think that the songs are resonant with those searching. There is a searching quality to them.
H naturally had to work this weekend, so I took a friend with, me who had never paid Modest Mouse much attention. I think last night changed that.
The only drawback to the overall show, was the smoke. I swear everyone there was smoking and not MJ - that I might have enjoyed that cloud by proxy, but no they were smoking cigarettes like a turn of the century Industrial smoke stack. The couple in front of us in the grass, killed an entire pack of camels. Ugh!
I could have lived without the cloud!
But it sure was nice to see Modest Mouse, living out loud.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
65 Questions You've Probably Never Been Asked
65 Questions You've Probably Never Been Asked
I got tagged, so I decided to post it here on my blog. Go ahead and take the challenge if you dare.
You know the rules. tag people in this note (including the person who tagged you!) to learn more about people. Also, try to tag people who you've tagged in other notes, sometimes you learn things in new notes that you didn't know before about them....blah blah blah whatever. :-)
1. First thing you wash in the shower?
back
2. What color is your favorite hoodie?
Would you believe I don't have one.
3. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again?
absolutely
4. Do you plan outfits?
yes
5. How are you feeling RIGHT now?
happy and content
6. What’s the closest thing to you that's red?
E's fire truck
7. Tell me about the last dream you remember having?
It was dreamy...
8. Did you meet anybody new today?
No
9. What are you craving right now?
Chai
10. Do you floss?
yes
11. What comes to mind when I say cabbage?
rolls
12. Are you emotional
yes
13. Have you ever counted to 1,000?
no
14. Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it?
I do not eat ice cream.
15. Do you like your hair?
I love my hair.
16. Do you like yourself?
Yes
17. Would you go out to eat with George W. Bush?
Nope.
18. What are you listening to right now?
CD101
19. Are your parents strict?
yes
20. Would you go sky diving?
No, I have too much to lose
21. Do you like cottage cheese?
I do, but it does not like me.
22. Have you ever met a celebrity?
Yes, long time ago.
23. Do you rent movies often?
No.
24. Is there anything sparkly in the room you're in?
Yes.
25. How many countries have you visited?
5
26. Have you made a prank phone call?
I do not think so.
27. Ever been on a train?
Yes
28. Brown or white eggs?
Brown, but right now I am not eating eggs.
29. Do you have a cell phone?
Yes
30. Do you use chap stick?
sometimes
31. Do you own a gun?
No
32. Can you use chop sticks?
Yes.
33. Who are you going to be with tonight?
Just me and the kiddos.
34. Are you too forgiving?
I don't think so.
35. Ever been in love?
Yes
36. What is your best friend(s) doing tomorrow?
Working.
37. Ever have cream puffs?
A long time ago
38. Last time you cried?
A few days ago.
39. What was the last question you asked?
Did you eat all your Mac -n-Cheese
40. Favorite time of the year?
Fall
41. Do you have any tattoos?
No. Its a needle thing.
42. Are you sarcastic?
Sometimes. I favor irony.
43. Have you ever seen The Butterfly Effect?
No
44. Ever walked into a wall?
yes
45. Favorite color?
green
46. Have you ever slapped someone?
No. But I have wanted to.
47. Is your hair curly?
Wavy more than curly
48. What was the last CD you bought?
I have not bought CD's in a long time.
49. Do looks matter?
Better to look inside.
50. Could you ever forgive a cheater?
The truth is very important to me.
51. Is your phone bill sky high?
No
52. Do you like your life right now?
Yes, very much.
53. Do you sleep with the TV on?
We do not have a TV in our room.
54. Can you handle the truth?
I welcome the truth.
55. Do you have good vision?
Yes
56. Do you hate or dislike more than 3 people?
I do not hate. There are people, who used to be in my life, who I would not welcome back with open arms.
57. How often do you talk on the phone?
I text more than I talk.
58. The last person you held hands with?
HP
59. What are you wearing?
cotton dress and lite weight long sleeve sweater
60. What is your favorite animal?
Fish
61. Where was your default picture taken at?
Hocking Hills
62. Can you hula hoop?
Yes
63. Do you have a job?
Yep, freelance writer and full-time mom
64. What was the most recent thing you bought?
purse at target and school supplies
65. Have you ever crawled through a window?
How about out, I fled a Frat party thru a window once. Once with L was a baby, she locked me out on the deck, I crawled in thru the window.
I got tagged, so I decided to post it here on my blog. Go ahead and take the challenge if you dare.
You know the rules. tag people in this note (including the person who tagged you!) to learn more about people. Also, try to tag people who you've tagged in other notes, sometimes you learn things in new notes that you didn't know before about them....blah blah blah whatever. :-)
1. First thing you wash in the shower?
back
2. What color is your favorite hoodie?
Would you believe I don't have one.
3. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again?
absolutely
4. Do you plan outfits?
yes
5. How are you feeling RIGHT now?
happy and content
6. What’s the closest thing to you that's red?
E's fire truck
7. Tell me about the last dream you remember having?
It was dreamy...
8. Did you meet anybody new today?
No
9. What are you craving right now?
Chai
10. Do you floss?
yes
11. What comes to mind when I say cabbage?
rolls
12. Are you emotional
yes
13. Have you ever counted to 1,000?
no
14. Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it?
I do not eat ice cream.
15. Do you like your hair?
I love my hair.
16. Do you like yourself?
Yes
17. Would you go out to eat with George W. Bush?
Nope.
18. What are you listening to right now?
CD101
19. Are your parents strict?
yes
20. Would you go sky diving?
No, I have too much to lose
21. Do you like cottage cheese?
I do, but it does not like me.
22. Have you ever met a celebrity?
Yes, long time ago.
23. Do you rent movies often?
No.
24. Is there anything sparkly in the room you're in?
Yes.
25. How many countries have you visited?
5
26. Have you made a prank phone call?
I do not think so.
27. Ever been on a train?
Yes
28. Brown or white eggs?
Brown, but right now I am not eating eggs.
29. Do you have a cell phone?
Yes
30. Do you use chap stick?
sometimes
31. Do you own a gun?
No
32. Can you use chop sticks?
Yes.
33. Who are you going to be with tonight?
Just me and the kiddos.
34. Are you too forgiving?
I don't think so.
35. Ever been in love?
Yes
36. What is your best friend(s) doing tomorrow?
Working.
37. Ever have cream puffs?
A long time ago
38. Last time you cried?
A few days ago.
39. What was the last question you asked?
Did you eat all your Mac -n-Cheese
40. Favorite time of the year?
Fall
41. Do you have any tattoos?
No. Its a needle thing.
42. Are you sarcastic?
Sometimes. I favor irony.
43. Have you ever seen The Butterfly Effect?
No
44. Ever walked into a wall?
yes
45. Favorite color?
green
46. Have you ever slapped someone?
No. But I have wanted to.
47. Is your hair curly?
Wavy more than curly
48. What was the last CD you bought?
I have not bought CD's in a long time.
49. Do looks matter?
Better to look inside.
50. Could you ever forgive a cheater?
The truth is very important to me.
51. Is your phone bill sky high?
No
52. Do you like your life right now?
Yes, very much.
53. Do you sleep with the TV on?
We do not have a TV in our room.
54. Can you handle the truth?
I welcome the truth.
55. Do you have good vision?
Yes
56. Do you hate or dislike more than 3 people?
I do not hate. There are people, who used to be in my life, who I would not welcome back with open arms.
57. How often do you talk on the phone?
I text more than I talk.
58. The last person you held hands with?
HP
59. What are you wearing?
cotton dress and lite weight long sleeve sweater
60. What is your favorite animal?
Fish
61. Where was your default picture taken at?
Hocking Hills
62. Can you hula hoop?
Yes
63. Do you have a job?
Yep, freelance writer and full-time mom
64. What was the most recent thing you bought?
purse at target and school supplies
65. Have you ever crawled through a window?
How about out, I fled a Frat party thru a window once. Once with L was a baby, she locked me out on the deck, I crawled in thru the window.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Bye Bye Summer
I cannot believe school starts next week. The summer seems both endless and short at the same time. I was feeling like we got nothing accomplished, but that is not true.
* Took our first ever camping trip to Northern Michigan. Heavenly.
* I attended the Kenyon Review's summer writing workshop. Inspirational.
*E was ill at 4th of July, but L and I managed the fireworks.
*L had her tonsils removed and spent 2 weeks being quiet and recovering. Towards the end of the 2 weeks I had to sit on her big time.
* L attending camp at E's preschool, took dance camp, and art camp. She loved it. Leanring and having fun during the summer.
*E went to camp every week M-W-F, in part to hold our spot for fall and in part to give me time for school and time with just L!
*L and I painted pottery
*We went to the Zoo and Zoombize Bay a fair amount
*H took L to DC to visit his cousin and see the sights.
I had thought we might have more time for running around, but we were busy
*L and I both had killer B-day parties
*We went to one wedding, staying overnight in a hotel! A highlight for the kiddos
*Farmers markets trips and we grew our own tomatoes
I read about 10 books and had 2 MBA classes.
So all in all, it was a busy, fun and productive summer. Looking forward to school starting and having a "normal" routine.
* Took our first ever camping trip to Northern Michigan. Heavenly.
* I attended the Kenyon Review's summer writing workshop. Inspirational.
*E was ill at 4th of July, but L and I managed the fireworks.
*L had her tonsils removed and spent 2 weeks being quiet and recovering. Towards the end of the 2 weeks I had to sit on her big time.
* L attending camp at E's preschool, took dance camp, and art camp. She loved it. Leanring and having fun during the summer.
*E went to camp every week M-W-F, in part to hold our spot for fall and in part to give me time for school and time with just L!
*L and I painted pottery
*We went to the Zoo and Zoombize Bay a fair amount
*H took L to DC to visit his cousin and see the sights.
I had thought we might have more time for running around, but we were busy
*L and I both had killer B-day parties
*We went to one wedding, staying overnight in a hotel! A highlight for the kiddos
*Farmers markets trips and we grew our own tomatoes
I read about 10 books and had 2 MBA classes.
So all in all, it was a busy, fun and productive summer. Looking forward to school starting and having a "normal" routine.
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