Some may think it unnecessary work with modern conveniences like bread machines, but I really love making bread by hand. I don't do it that often, but I find it very satisfying (and delicious) when I do. I guess my reasons for this are many.
For one, living in an apartment with a tiny kitchen makes extra appliances, which require storage that I do not have, not very appealing. Plus, a bread machine takes away the satisfying part of bread making: kneading the dough. It's an excellent exercise if you're feeling stressed, upset, or any number of other things. Plus, I can see the progress as I work the dough from a sticky or floury mess to a smooth ball of dough. I find it fascinating that five simple ingredients - flour, salt, yeast, water, and oil - can make so much deliciousness.
Another thing I'm realizing about bread making is that it makes me feel more connected with family. My mom always made bread when we were growing up and would sometimes rope us kids into helping. I remember the smell of bread baking in the oven and how it was always (even now) such a treat to get that first slice as soon as the loaf was cool enough to slice. Her mother made homemade bread too. Even now, I think grandma still makes all her bread from scratch. So now, when I make bread, I mix the dough in a stainless steel bowl that used to belong to my great grandmother (my mom's mom's mom - did you get that?), and I wear an apron that my sister bought me. And so when I make bread, I'm perhaps just a little closer to all of them.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
the very odd day
This morning as I was getting ready for church I noticed my nose for no particular reason. It seemed bigger, longer than normal. Since it probably didn't grow overnight, I assume it's just an optical illusion, but every time I looked in the mirror it just looked odd. It was as though my nose had been replaced in the night with some foreign nose.
It's rather like when you read or say one word repeatedly and for no apparent reason it starts to seem not quite right. The spelling doesn't look correct, and the sounds feel awkward in your mouth. Everything about the word is strange.
That's how my nose seemed this morning. And like with words that have acquired a certain strangeness, given distance and time, things reverted to normal. When I got home from church, my nose appeared just as it should.
---
We've been having scattered thunderstorms for the past several days. So when I looked out my living room window 20 minutes ago, I wasn't surprised to see drops falling from the sky. What was unusual was that all I could see were sunshine and blue skies, so I stepped outside to take a look. I expected to see a cloud hovering above the building, out of sight from my inside vantage point, but no, there were nothing but blue skies overhead and all around excepting one or two very tiny, white clouds a little ways in the distance. And yet, there I stood in the sunshine with raindrops falling all around. There wasn't really any wind either, so I'm positive the drops weren't blowing off of any tree leaves. It was rather like an unusual omen that might happen in a children's fantasy movie before something rather strange and amazing happens.
---
There is something wrong with the keyboard on my MacBook. At the strangest times, the cursor just starts jumping around the text box. It will move up into other sentences and highlight random words. It's most annoying and makes it a chore to type anything. This post, for instance, took twice as long as it ought to have because I kept having to correct for the errant cursor. I think it's time to visit a Mac Genius.
It's rather like when you read or say one word repeatedly and for no apparent reason it starts to seem not quite right. The spelling doesn't look correct, and the sounds feel awkward in your mouth. Everything about the word is strange.
That's how my nose seemed this morning. And like with words that have acquired a certain strangeness, given distance and time, things reverted to normal. When I got home from church, my nose appeared just as it should.
---
We've been having scattered thunderstorms for the past several days. So when I looked out my living room window 20 minutes ago, I wasn't surprised to see drops falling from the sky. What was unusual was that all I could see were sunshine and blue skies, so I stepped outside to take a look. I expected to see a cloud hovering above the building, out of sight from my inside vantage point, but no, there were nothing but blue skies overhead and all around excepting one or two very tiny, white clouds a little ways in the distance. And yet, there I stood in the sunshine with raindrops falling all around. There wasn't really any wind either, so I'm positive the drops weren't blowing off of any tree leaves. It was rather like an unusual omen that might happen in a children's fantasy movie before something rather strange and amazing happens.
---
There is something wrong with the keyboard on my MacBook. At the strangest times, the cursor just starts jumping around the text box. It will move up into other sentences and highlight random words. It's most annoying and makes it a chore to type anything. This post, for instance, took twice as long as it ought to have because I kept having to correct for the errant cursor. I think it's time to visit a Mac Genius.
Tuesday, March 01, 2011
geek out moment
So during my reference shift, this girl comes to the desk to search for a book that should be available but is apparently no where to be found. After searching high and low, we determined the book to be missing, so I went over to the new book section (where she was browsing) to tell her.
She had already found another book to read and had it in hand when I approached. I told her we'd notify her when the errant book was found, to which she replied that she had already found something to read. What book, you ask? Well, I'm so glad you did.
The book she had selected to check out was my book, which had been on display along with other new acquisitions. She's interested in British literature, so she thought the book sounded really perfect for her. I couldn't help myself. I had to tell her that I had written it. She thought that was pretty cool. I told her that I just hoped the book didn't disappoint.
It was such an amazing moment. It was everything I could do not to do a little happy dance right there in the middle of the library. This may be one of the coolest things that's ever happened in my life. Love it :)
She had already found another book to read and had it in hand when I approached. I told her we'd notify her when the errant book was found, to which she replied that she had already found something to read. What book, you ask? Well, I'm so glad you did.
The book she had selected to check out was my book, which had been on display along with other new acquisitions. She's interested in British literature, so she thought the book sounded really perfect for her. I couldn't help myself. I had to tell her that I had written it. She thought that was pretty cool. I told her that I just hoped the book didn't disappoint.
It was such an amazing moment. It was everything I could do not to do a little happy dance right there in the middle of the library. This may be one of the coolest things that's ever happened in my life. Love it :)
Thursday, February 24, 2011
thursday night thoughts, unrelated
In my entire life, I can only think of 2 instances where I've lost an earring. Both times I really loved the earring. Having said that, I still have some small hope that the one I lost today will turn up.
Meetings are more fun if you think of them as sitcoms.
My maid must have gotten waylaid for the last couple weeks. If you see her, can you send her my way.
T-minus 9 days until Reno. I can't wait!
Meetings are more fun if you think of them as sitcoms.
My maid must have gotten waylaid for the last couple weeks. If you see her, can you send her my way.
T-minus 9 days until Reno. I can't wait!
Saturday, February 19, 2011
fair use, or, a matter of principle
A very long time ago, when I was still working on The Book, I made the acquaintance of E, who is the president of a Database Company (DC) that produces a Nineteenth Century Product (NCP). The NCP was one of many, and I do mean many, resources discussed in said book (roughly 300 in the book proper and another 130 in the appendix). Since making our initial acquaintance, E and I have had several discussions about nineteenth century research and the like. Recently E and I had the following exchange via e-mail (this is excerpted only):
E: "... How can we get access to the book? [Employee] can put a blurb about it at [website], which gets a good deal of hits, insofar as it speaks favorably (I hope) about our [NCP]..."
Me: "The book is available from the publisher and places like Amazon. [links inserted here] ... Thanks for the offer to put a blurb about the book on [DC's] support site. I really appreciate that."
E: "No problem. Is it possible to get an e-version of all/part of the [NCP] content? That’s our lead, then we’ll add the link to Scarecrow and Amazon…"
Me: "Well, there is an e-version of the book that could be purchased, but I can’t send a virtual copy of all or part of the book. I don’t want to violate the terms of the contract by posting sections online. I’m sure you understand."
E: "I understand, but a snipper is fair use, no? E.G. IF I wanted to cite a paragraph for a article I’m writing on 19th Stuides [sic], that’d fall into fair use. What think? FYI, we can discuss on Wed. at 11 am your time, which is good for me, if for you."
OK - we now return to our regularly scheduled blog post.
So there are a few thoughts I have about this exchange.
1. I feel like he wants to use sections of my book just to promote his product. I get that he's a businessman, but I feel like what he's suggesting devalues all of the time and effort I put in to writing a 321 page book. Yes, his product is mentioned, but it's not intended as a "review" per se. It is intended to explain what the product is and how scholars can use it, not serve as a promotional tool.
2. If he wanted to purchase a copy of said book and quote a few sentences related to NCP, I would have no problem with that as long as he provided attribution. That would fall under fair use, which I'm completely fine with. What irks me is his assumption that I would, should, and could just send him the paragraphs and pages that are about his product.
3. I feel like by a "snipper" (what the heck type of term is that anyway?) he means large sections of text not just a sentence or two. This may be somewhat unrelated to the first sentence, but him claiming "fair use" irritates me too since fair use (as I understand it) is largely in relation to academic use. According to the U.S. Copyright office, "Under the fair use doctrine of the U.S. copyright statute, it is permissible to use limited portions of a work including quotes, for purposes such as commentary, criticism, news reporting, and scholarly reports." I'm not sure if his purposes strictly fit the definition although I suppose one could argue that it would be "news reporting" of sorts.
So while I do hold the copyright for the intellectual contents of the book, there is this lovely little statement on the publication details page that says:
"All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote passages in a review."
So from that I take it to mean that quotation is fine but reproducing the content is not. Seems simple enough. Even if I was not having qualms about what he's asking, I don't think I have the right to just send him a digital version. Besides, I don't even have a digital version of the final, printed book. I have a digital version of the page proofs, but those are 1) not the final version and 2) not intended for distribution.
I think it's cheap and lazy of him not to just purchase the book and find the relevant content on his own. I'd rather not encourage such behavior. I don't want him to take content and make it seem like I'm specifically endorsing his product when his was just one of many resources covered in the book. I suppose he thinks he's doing me some sort of favor by mentioning the book on his company's website, but the book will sell just fine without his extra plug for it. The publisher is responsible for promoting the book, and I think they're doing a fine job of it.
So am I unnecessarily irritated by the whole situation? Should I not so stubbornly refuse to send him the content he wants? What think you?
E: "... How can we get access to the book? [Employee] can put a blurb about it at [website], which gets a good deal of hits, insofar as it speaks favorably (I hope) about our [NCP]..."
Me: "The book is available from the publisher and places like Amazon. [links inserted here] ... Thanks for the offer to put a blurb about the book on [DC's] support site. I really appreciate that."
E: "No problem. Is it possible to get an e-version of all/part of the [NCP] content? That’s our lead, then we’ll add the link to Scarecrow and Amazon…"
Me: "Well, there is an e-version of the book that could be purchased, but I can’t send a virtual copy of all or part of the book. I don’t want to violate the terms of the contract by posting sections online. I’m sure you understand."
E: "I understand, but a snipper is fair use, no? E.G. IF I wanted to cite a paragraph for a article I’m writing on 19th Stuides [sic], that’d fall into fair use. What think? FYI, we can discuss on Wed. at 11 am your time, which is good for me, if for you."
OK - we now return to our regularly scheduled blog post.
So there are a few thoughts I have about this exchange.
1. I feel like he wants to use sections of my book just to promote his product. I get that he's a businessman, but I feel like what he's suggesting devalues all of the time and effort I put in to writing a 321 page book. Yes, his product is mentioned, but it's not intended as a "review" per se. It is intended to explain what the product is and how scholars can use it, not serve as a promotional tool.
2. If he wanted to purchase a copy of said book and quote a few sentences related to NCP, I would have no problem with that as long as he provided attribution. That would fall under fair use, which I'm completely fine with. What irks me is his assumption that I would, should, and could just send him the paragraphs and pages that are about his product.
3. I feel like by a "snipper" (what the heck type of term is that anyway?) he means large sections of text not just a sentence or two. This may be somewhat unrelated to the first sentence, but him claiming "fair use" irritates me too since fair use (as I understand it) is largely in relation to academic use. According to the U.S. Copyright office, "Under the fair use doctrine of the U.S. copyright statute, it is permissible to use limited portions of a work including quotes, for purposes such as commentary, criticism, news reporting, and scholarly reports." I'm not sure if his purposes strictly fit the definition although I suppose one could argue that it would be "news reporting" of sorts.
So while I do hold the copyright for the intellectual contents of the book, there is this lovely little statement on the publication details page that says:
"All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote passages in a review."
So from that I take it to mean that quotation is fine but reproducing the content is not. Seems simple enough. Even if I was not having qualms about what he's asking, I don't think I have the right to just send him a digital version. Besides, I don't even have a digital version of the final, printed book. I have a digital version of the page proofs, but those are 1) not the final version and 2) not intended for distribution.
I think it's cheap and lazy of him not to just purchase the book and find the relevant content on his own. I'd rather not encourage such behavior. I don't want him to take content and make it seem like I'm specifically endorsing his product when his was just one of many resources covered in the book. I suppose he thinks he's doing me some sort of favor by mentioning the book on his company's website, but the book will sell just fine without his extra plug for it. The publisher is responsible for promoting the book, and I think they're doing a fine job of it.
So am I unnecessarily irritated by the whole situation? Should I not so stubbornly refuse to send him the content he wants? What think you?
Thursday, December 23, 2010
a certain shade of blue
After the sun has sunk beneath the horizon, the winter sky turns a certain shade of blue.
The waning light of the sun seems to create a blue layered under turquoise and over deeper shades of black. In the incomplete world of Crayola colors, the best name for it is midnight blue. This shade is the sun’s last hurrah before giving the sky over to night and blackness and starlight. If my memory is correct, this isn’t specific to the winter months, but when snow covers the ground and each breath hangs in the air, there’s a certain magic that dances through the skies at this time of night.
It’s a time of day when I feel like if I close my eyes and breathe in deeply and then slowly exhale, I might become absorbed into the blue. It would be like coming home.
Having lived in other parts of the country, it seems that skies of this color are very particular to the upper Midwest although I couldn’t say with certainty that the Northwest and Northeast don’t enjoy similarly beautiful night skies. Perhaps it’s because of how far north these states are or because of the relative absence of artificial light or because of how clean the air is. Regardless of the reason, night skies here are full of a beauty and majesty that’s leaves me in awe.
These photos may not capture this perfectly, but for a glimpse of this blue, you can go here or here or here or here.
The waning light of the sun seems to create a blue layered under turquoise and over deeper shades of black. In the incomplete world of Crayola colors, the best name for it is midnight blue. This shade is the sun’s last hurrah before giving the sky over to night and blackness and starlight. If my memory is correct, this isn’t specific to the winter months, but when snow covers the ground and each breath hangs in the air, there’s a certain magic that dances through the skies at this time of night.
It’s a time of day when I feel like if I close my eyes and breathe in deeply and then slowly exhale, I might become absorbed into the blue. It would be like coming home.
Having lived in other parts of the country, it seems that skies of this color are very particular to the upper Midwest although I couldn’t say with certainty that the Northwest and Northeast don’t enjoy similarly beautiful night skies. Perhaps it’s because of how far north these states are or because of the relative absence of artificial light or because of how clean the air is. Regardless of the reason, night skies here are full of a beauty and majesty that’s leaves me in awe.
These photos may not capture this perfectly, but for a glimpse of this blue, you can go here or here or here or here.
Thursday, December 02, 2010
really real
Today when I got home from work, a box rested on my doorstep. A different package, one I had been expecting, had been delivered over the lunch hour, so I wasn't really anticipating anything more. As soon as I stooped to pick it up, I realized what it contained.
My author copies of the book finally arrived. Five, pristine copies, hot off the press, are all mine. It's. It finally exists. People will read it, and libraries will buy it.
Even though I've been expecting my book to arrive in the mail any day, I'm still in shock. I burst into tears when I took the first copy from the box and held it in my time. It was all really overwhelming. I can't even say why I cried, but it was the only thing I really could do at the moment.
As I type, the shock is fading into relief with some inklings of joy. It has been such a long journey, and I'm just so glad to finally see the finished product at the end of it all.
My author copies of the book finally arrived. Five, pristine copies, hot off the press, are all mine. It's. It finally exists. People will read it, and libraries will buy it.
Even though I've been expecting my book to arrive in the mail any day, I'm still in shock. I burst into tears when I took the first copy from the box and held it in my time. It was all really overwhelming. I can't even say why I cried, but it was the only thing I really could do at the moment.
As I type, the shock is fading into relief with some inklings of joy. It has been such a long journey, and I'm just so glad to finally see the finished product at the end of it all.
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
cold comfort
In less than 2 weeks I will pass out of my 20s and into my 30s. I'm not impressed with this turn of events. No lie. I'm not angry about it like I was when I turned 27 and passed out of my late-mid 20s and into my late 20s, but I'm generally not having any of this.
I think it's just not time for me to be 30. You may think I'm being ridiculous, but I don't really care. There are just so many things I thought would be different about my life when I hit 30. Book publishing and tenure and promotion and such are cold comforts at best.
But, as one of my colleagues pointed out, if I consider the options, it may not be so horrible. 30 or death? Death or 30? Given those options, I choose life, which I suppose means I choose 30.
When I set out to write this post, I thought I would make it funny. I don't think I've succeeded. Perhaps 30 is just not very funny.
I think it's just not time for me to be 30. You may think I'm being ridiculous, but I don't really care. There are just so many things I thought would be different about my life when I hit 30. Book publishing and tenure and promotion and such are cold comforts at best.
But, as one of my colleagues pointed out, if I consider the options, it may not be so horrible. 30 or death? Death or 30? Given those options, I choose life, which I suppose means I choose 30.
When I set out to write this post, I thought I would make it funny. I don't think I've succeeded. Perhaps 30 is just not very funny.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
be my delight
I recently learned about the band Ascend the Hill and heard their version of the song "Be Thou My Vision." The song itself is not new. It's an Old Irish text from the 6th century that wasn't translated into English until 1905. I really love this arrangement of the song. My favorite part though is the bridge, which isn't in the original version. It goes...
Oh God be my everything, be my delight
Be Jesus, my glory, my soul satisfied
I just want to listen to that part of the song over and over again. I've included a link to the song below rather than embedding the clip because there's a bizarre deer head photo that's in the background. I can't look at it because it distracts me from the beauty of the song itself.
Ascend the Hill "Be Thou My Vision"
Oh God be my everything, be my delight
Be Jesus, my glory, my soul satisfied
I just want to listen to that part of the song over and over again. I've included a link to the song below rather than embedding the clip because there's a bizarre deer head photo that's in the background. I can't look at it because it distracts me from the beauty of the song itself.
Ascend the Hill "Be Thou My Vision"
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
lost and found
Some of you know this and some of you may not, but I broke up with Diego almost two months ago. Although I changed my relationship status on Facebook, I immediately deleted the notification that would have shown up on all 350 of my "closest" friends' news feeds. At the time I just couldn't handle the potential stream of e-mails and phone calls and questions, and the thought of having to repeat the story (or variations of it) over and over again just seemed overwhelming. So I took a very passive approach to breaking the news.
Even now I don't feel up for any sort of mass announcement, so this post--whatever you might thing it is--is not intended to rehash the break up, to cast blame, or to paint anyone as a villain. I have no need to disrespect him or us and post all of the tiny reasons for and nuances of the break up for anyone to read. The only thing I will say about it is that it was my choice and that I believe I made the right choice. I have a lot of peace about the decision even now.
What this post is about is how I feel like part of me got lost over the last few years. I am largely to blame for that. I think the people-pleasing part of my personality is such that I want to make others happy, to be who they want me to be, to make things easier for them. I have never been a fan of conflict. Wait... that was an understatement. Let me rephrase: I have a huge aversion to interpersonal conflict. So perhaps over time, I let bits and pieces of myself slip away without even realizing it. Maybe it was easier to let those things about myself slide than to make issue over what individually seemed like small things.
Right now I'm in the process of finding those pieces of myself. I'm remembering the things that brought me here. I'm looking to the future with optimism and hope. I think it will be an interesting journey, one I'm very excited to embark on.
Even now I don't feel up for any sort of mass announcement, so this post--whatever you might thing it is--is not intended to rehash the break up, to cast blame, or to paint anyone as a villain. I have no need to disrespect him or us and post all of the tiny reasons for and nuances of the break up for anyone to read. The only thing I will say about it is that it was my choice and that I believe I made the right choice. I have a lot of peace about the decision even now.
What this post is about is how I feel like part of me got lost over the last few years. I am largely to blame for that. I think the people-pleasing part of my personality is such that I want to make others happy, to be who they want me to be, to make things easier for them. I have never been a fan of conflict. Wait... that was an understatement. Let me rephrase: I have a huge aversion to interpersonal conflict. So perhaps over time, I let bits and pieces of myself slip away without even realizing it. Maybe it was easier to let those things about myself slide than to make issue over what individually seemed like small things.
Right now I'm in the process of finding those pieces of myself. I'm remembering the things that brought me here. I'm looking to the future with optimism and hope. I think it will be an interesting journey, one I'm very excited to embark on.
Monday, October 18, 2010
nostalgia + narcissism
Every once in a while, I remember an old post I wrote back when my blog lived on Upsaid instead of Blogger (see the nevada project archives below). It may be a bit of narcissism combined with a much larger dose of nostalgia, but it makes me ridiculously happy to read many of those old posts. I love reading them for a number of reasons that I'm not going to explain in any detail whatsoever:
* It helps me remember who I was before I was here.
* It makes me feel more hopeful and optimistic about the future.
* It reminds me that I can be a decent writer when I choose to be.
* It makes me love all of you dear friends even more.
* It reminds me that I used to write more often about more interesting topics.
* It makes me feel whole.
* It helps me remember who I was before I was here.
* It makes me feel more hopeful and optimistic about the future.
* It reminds me that I can be a decent writer when I choose to be.
* It makes me love all of you dear friends even more.
* It reminds me that I used to write more often about more interesting topics.
* It makes me feel whole.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
unfolding my soul
"Introspection means talking to yourself, and one of the best ways of talking to yourself is talking to another person you can trust, to whom you can unfold your soul. One other person you feel safe enough with to allow you to acknowledge things—to acknowledge things to yourself—that you otherwise can’t. Doubts you aren’t supposed to have, questions you aren’t supposed to ask. Feelings or opinions that would get you laughed at by the group or reprimanded by the authorities."
~ Excerpted from "Solitude and Leadership" by William Deresiewicz, from The American Scholar
I love that idea that by being open with another person about the inner workings of your soul is really a form of introspection. Rather than make broad assumptions, I'll just speak for myself here. I only rarely meet someone with whom I connect with so deeply that I feel like I can share all of myself with them. With most people I hold part of myself back mostly because I'm unsure of whether they'll accept all of me or even be interested in knowing me that intimately. Perhaps others connect deeply with people more frequently, but I suspect that isn't the case. Perhaps each of us is only meant to have that deep connection with a few people in our time here on earth.
At this moment, I'm just feeling very grateful for the ones who know me from the inside out and love me all the same. They're worth holding on to.
~ Excerpted from "Solitude and Leadership" by William Deresiewicz, from The American Scholar
I love that idea that by being open with another person about the inner workings of your soul is really a form of introspection. Rather than make broad assumptions, I'll just speak for myself here. I only rarely meet someone with whom I connect with so deeply that I feel like I can share all of myself with them. With most people I hold part of myself back mostly because I'm unsure of whether they'll accept all of me or even be interested in knowing me that intimately. Perhaps others connect deeply with people more frequently, but I suspect that isn't the case. Perhaps each of us is only meant to have that deep connection with a few people in our time here on earth.
At this moment, I'm just feeling very grateful for the ones who know me from the inside out and love me all the same. They're worth holding on to.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
time travel
Last night I had a dream that I time traveled. I was walking down a staircase when me from 40 minutes in the future opened a door at the bottom of the stairs. We ran towards each other, meeting in the middle of the staircase. We gave each other an enormous hug, and future me whispered something profound in my ear. And of course, now I can't remember what I told myself.
Saturday, August 07, 2010
mental math
Ever since I was in grade school, I have had this tendency to look at numbers, say, on a clock or a license plate and add them together. For instance, right now it's 9:43 a.m. I might start by adding the individual digits together until I'm only left with a single number. It goes something like this...
9:43
9+4+3=16
1+6=7
And then I'll wonder whether I'd get a different results if I changed how I combined the numbers.
9:43
(9+4)=13
1+3=4
4+3(the original 3 from the time)=7
I try to think of different ways the numbers could be combined, typically only using addition) to see whether the result is always the same. The goal is typically to get down to a single digit. Let's say a license plate was 25E 627.
2+5+6+2+7=22
2+2=4
But then I'll switch the method so that with each addition has to be added down to 1 digit before the next number can be added in. I'll bold the original numbers below.
2 | 5 | 6| 2 | 7
2+5=7
7+6=13
1+3=4
4+2=6
6+7=13
1+3=4
More often than not, no matter how I combine the numbers, the result is the same. I find that fascinating.
Am I the only one who does this? I suspect it's not something most people do when they look at strings of numbers. You can just file this away as thing #174390 that is quirky about Melissa. Or, to simplify...
1+7+4+3+9+0=24
2+4=6
:)
9:43
9+4+3=16
1+6=7
And then I'll wonder whether I'd get a different results if I changed how I combined the numbers.
9:43
(9+4)=13
1+3=4
4+3(the original 3 from the time)=7
I try to think of different ways the numbers could be combined, typically only using addition) to see whether the result is always the same. The goal is typically to get down to a single digit. Let's say a license plate was 25E 627.
2+5+6+2+7=22
2+2=4
But then I'll switch the method so that with each addition has to be added down to 1 digit before the next number can be added in. I'll bold the original numbers below.
2 | 5 | 6| 2 | 7
2+5=7
7+6=13
1+3=4
4+2=6
6+7=13
1+3=4
More often than not, no matter how I combine the numbers, the result is the same. I find that fascinating.
Am I the only one who does this? I suspect it's not something most people do when they look at strings of numbers. You can just file this away as thing #174390 that is quirky about Melissa. Or, to simplify...
1+7+4+3+9+0=24
2+4=6
:)
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
reminiscences
Sunday night I was in a reminiscing mood, so I read months upon months of old blog entries and dug the folder containing old quote boards and the 21st birthday book out of my file boxes. I admit that I stayed up ridiculously late reading through the old quotes and filtering through some dear memories. I love having the quote boards particularly because they help me remember little moments that had us rolling in laughter and keep those moments from fading into nothingness.
There are two quotes in particular that stood out to me, and I just wanted to share them both with you now. If you weren't there, they may not seem remarkable or make much sense, but what conversation does when it's taken out of context? To tell the truth, I don't fully remember the original context of either, but I remember the moment in general and all the laughter that accompanied it.
---
Rochelle: "It would be so hard for us to socialize with other people."
---
The beautiful thing about close friends is that you can really just be yourself around them. They know all of your quirks and idiosyncrasies, and they love you all the same. They know all the back stories and get all the inside jokes. You don't have to check yourself with them because they understand why you said what you said or why you reacted the way you reacted. And perhaps when you have those deep relationships, it is more difficult to socialize with other people because, well, other people just aren't the same. And perhaps because you "get" each other, little things are funny (even hysterical) when others might not quite get the humor in the situation.
---
Rochelle: "Do you think that's funny, Melissa?"
Melissa: "Do you think it's not?"
---
There are two quotes in particular that stood out to me, and I just wanted to share them both with you now. If you weren't there, they may not seem remarkable or make much sense, but what conversation does when it's taken out of context? To tell the truth, I don't fully remember the original context of either, but I remember the moment in general and all the laughter that accompanied it.
---
Rochelle: "It would be so hard for us to socialize with other people."
---
The beautiful thing about close friends is that you can really just be yourself around them. They know all of your quirks and idiosyncrasies, and they love you all the same. They know all the back stories and get all the inside jokes. You don't have to check yourself with them because they understand why you said what you said or why you reacted the way you reacted. And perhaps when you have those deep relationships, it is more difficult to socialize with other people because, well, other people just aren't the same. And perhaps because you "get" each other, little things are funny (even hysterical) when others might not quite get the humor in the situation.
---
Rochelle: "Do you think that's funny, Melissa?"
Melissa: "Do you think it's not?"
---
Saturday, July 31, 2010
coram Deo
"God created us to live coram Deo. Coram Deo means to live "before the face of God" and was commonly used by John Calvin and others throughout church history to explain the Christian life. Practically speaking, we were created to live all of life in the presence of God, under the authority of God, by the Word of God, to the glory of God. We were created to live all of life before the face of God, knowing that nothing in our life is secular or separated from the sight of God because all of life is sacred. To live otherwise is sacrilege."
Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears, Doctrine: What Christians Should Believe
Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears, Doctrine: What Christians Should Believe
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Saturday, July 17, 2010
a mixed bag
This evening I received the best of news and the worst of news from two friends. I am filled with joy for the former and overcome by sadness for the latter.
Job 1:21
And he said, "Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."
Job 1:21
And he said, "Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
more shiny and new
This is a belated post, but about a month ago I replaced the world's most uncomfortable futon (see photo below) with a shiny, new, and comfortable couch (see photo even further below). Some of you requested pictures a long time ago, and at long last here they are :)
before...
after...
before...
after...
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
out to pasture
Nine years ago, after my old Camry dumped all of its transmission fluid on Clark St. by the Theta house, I bought Snowflake, my trusty little Neon. In nine years Snowflake drove me across the country several times and lived with me in 4 states. In spite of some bouts of rather expensive repairs, she was a good little car.
That said she and I recently came to a point where it was apparent it wasn't worth it for me to keep her and she was ready to have a bit lighter use, perhaps. So as one might do with a well-loved horse, instead of sending her to the glue factory, I'm sending her to the country to give rides to children.
Well, really I've sold her to my parents so that my dad can have an older car to drive between the house, the grain elevator, and the chicken farm. I figure that's the equivalent of sending a horse out to pasture in old age. Plus the analogy makes me feel better about betraying my trusty steed :)
So on Friday I bought a replacement car with Diego's much-appreciated help. The new car is a 2010 Honda Civic EX in Urban Titanium Metallic (kind of a shiny, metallic taupe color). I went with the more expensive model so I could have "necessary" features such as a moon roof and audio controls on the steering wheel. If you're a car junky and want to know specs, you can look them up here: http://automobiles.honda.com/civic-sedan.
So... as to the pictures some of you have asked for...
And for old time's sake, here's a picture of the soon to be gone but not forgotten Snowflake. Enjoy being put out to pasture!
That said she and I recently came to a point where it was apparent it wasn't worth it for me to keep her and she was ready to have a bit lighter use, perhaps. So as one might do with a well-loved horse, instead of sending her to the glue factory, I'm sending her to the country to give rides to children.
Well, really I've sold her to my parents so that my dad can have an older car to drive between the house, the grain elevator, and the chicken farm. I figure that's the equivalent of sending a horse out to pasture in old age. Plus the analogy makes me feel better about betraying my trusty steed :)
So on Friday I bought a replacement car with Diego's much-appreciated help. The new car is a 2010 Honda Civic EX in Urban Titanium Metallic (kind of a shiny, metallic taupe color). I went with the more expensive model so I could have "necessary" features such as a moon roof and audio controls on the steering wheel. If you're a car junky and want to know specs, you can look them up here: http://automobiles.honda.com/civic-sedan.
So... as to the pictures some of you have asked for...
And for old time's sake, here's a picture of the soon to be gone but not forgotten Snowflake. Enjoy being put out to pasture!
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