Tyler drew this before Christmas last year. Too cool.
]]>Well, it's not like anyone's reading this, right?
]]>Oh, well, time marches on and we must press on. I keep telling myself that by this time next year, I'll have the BA and be starting grad classes!
I keep telling myself that all of this will be so worth it.
Wonder if I'll find my motivation next week.
Anyone have any upbeat tune suggestions for getting up in the mornings?
]]>Remember way back when you were growing up and VCRs were new? The big joke was that the kids could program it to record better than the parents who’d bought it. It was like that at my house, too. Which led me, a girl, to be more technologically-minded than even some of my male peers.
Computers came easy, too. For a while, there I was on a super track to success in the technological world. I had some basic programming skills, excellent word processing skills (even without spellcheck!) and could even take apart a computer and add hardware.
But then, two things happened: 1) I didn’t own or have access to a computer more than minimally for ten years and 2) the technological world zoomed past and left me so far back I couldn’t even see the dust.
Now, I feel very much like my parents with the VCR. My four-year-old is adept with the DVD player and DVR remote. OK, so I am the one who hooks up everything, the one who shows my husband the tips and tricks to using a cell phone to its fullest potential, and the one who loads the MP3 players with songs, pics and video. So what? I’m the parent who, in a few years’ time, will be the one wondering what the hell my son is texting to me.
What kills me, is that I’m not that far removed from the Net generation. Gen X is the one who came up with most of this stuff. (Still can’t figure out Gen Y’s contribution.)
So, as a student of linguistics, I’m interested in this phenomenon. But as a child of the father who stressed “proper” grammar, I’m struggling. Part of me can study textlingo with objectivity and understand (even if it is hard sometimes) that there are no “improper” languages only dialects. Another part of me screams, cut it out! Capitalize the damn “I,” it’s not that hard.
I take pride in the personal choice not to degrade myself with completely random spellings and proper punctuation. I still feel as if I am not true to myself if I get lazy when texting or IMing, which, of course, leads to lengthy communiqué. So what, I’m different and proud to be so. However, perhaps it is time to learn a new language.
This objectivity doesn’t keep me from being appalled at the liberties these little teeny-boppers are taking with the language. Plus, the fact that some teachers are allowing this stuff in papers really ticks me off. If we are to allow this new writing system, can’t we make it understood that there is a time and a place?
Perhaps we as parents and teachers should stress the art of writing to the audience while honing the skills it takes to fit in. You know, “proper” (standardized) grammar when say, talking to a judge. And that it’s OK to use expletives with your peers, but not their parents.
Here’s a question for all those liberals out there: Would this emphasis put too much pressure on kids just finding themselves? Or is the chameleon-like flexibility a good skill to teach? Is this asking too much from parents who “don’t have time” to really teach their kids?
]]>Almost exactly three years apart - minus a hour and a half.
]]>Just had to get that out!
]]>After reading this imagine how you would do writing in another language!
Still very funny!
]]>Until then...here's something to talk about over dinner.
http://savageminds.org/2007/08/14/for-every-bee-there-is-a-flower/
]]>
Tyler drew this before Christmas last year. Too cool.
]]>
Language of the Norse, Older Futhark! Thirty symbols, all told. And no hardier, more warrior-like tongue has ever graced the longships of the Viki or left the Celts and Saxons in such quivering fear. There's only one drawback, that being you died 800 years ago.
| Link: The Which Ancient Language Are You Test written by imipak on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test |
I have no idea if we go more volunteers on Fri.
And I did miss something from my folder. But in my defense - it was something I didn't know I needed for registration.
As for Karmic retribution for the City... well, the company that has a monopoly on the electricity (etc). in town just got hit and almost the entire city went dark for almost five hours today, the hottest day so far this summer.
Yes, I was uncomfortable. No, the kids didn't even notice. They drank lots of water, but they do that every day. It's not even NBCI newsworthy at 9:00pm. Even though they were here and the event made the local paper.
Although, I am beginning to wonder if the City ever stops to think. The Flood in the spring (that was an adventure - just in the neighborhood!) The Fire last month(?) and now the Power Outage. Doesn't that say something about this place? Maybe the City has finally pissed off a Higher Power than they can pay off....hmmmm
]]>This year I'm prepared for the dreaded REGISTRATION DAY. I have a folder with everything I think I'll need. I'm registering three kids this year (two or three address forms in triplicate!). Mykela's going into Pre-K (no more babies - boo!) and there's a limit on how many can make it into the class. So I have to be there early - with extra forms and info.
On top of that, I'm heading the Harvest Fest again this year (I don't know what possessed me to do it. It seemed like a good idea in May). So there's this volunteer sign up sheet I have to do as well. If the average is one third of the people who sign up for this will actually do something, and I get all three sheets filled, then I'll have enough volunteers to help do this thing, right? Well, think about this, of the one third that actually show up to the first meeting, only one third of those actually do something, anything! So, if I only get one sheet filled out....
No, I can do this. Positive thinking, right?
I will go through the tables pick up all the right forms and have all the right information ready to make sure my kids get into school.
I can do this.
I will not have anything to rant about this afternoon.
Does anyone recognize a pep talk when they see one?
]]>The kids are driving me batty I just want to hang them up in the closet with duct tape over their mouths. But that's child cruelty, so I just smother them with kisses and tickles to control the type of sounds coming from them if not the volume level.
On top of it all, there's the online Ling class. This isn't hard on the surface. If I had more time to spend going over the notes, I'd totally get it instead of being "on the right track." But It's almost over.
Just in time for registration, school supply/birthday shopping, and so many other things to finish and do before school actually starts. People keep asking how I do what I do. I really have no idea. I sometimes feel really lazy and don't leave the house unless I have to for days at a time. But then, (like this semester), I'll be out every day; dropping off, picking up, going to classes, finding time to shop for groceries and still study for five classes.
The secret is: an organized calendar and a phone that beeps reminders that can be synced to that calendar. Otherwise, I'd forget to pick up the kids! Nobody believes that is a possiblity. But it's actually happened three times in the past five years. I beat myself up over it all the time.
I guess that's enough rambling for now. I'll have more fodder for thoughts later. As it is, I don't know how I have the time to think!
]]>Yeah!
Happy Birthday!
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