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Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Accent Quiz

Eerily accurate. I'm from Queens.

What American accent do you have?
Created by Xavier on Memegen.net

New York City. You are most definitely from New York City. Not New Jersey, not Connecticut. If you are from Jersey then you can probably get into New York City in 10 minutes or less.

Take this quiz now - it's easy!
We're going to start with "cot" and "caught." When you say those words do they sound the same or different?



Planning and Organizing

I am a great one for plans. I like planning more than doing.

I am working on Holiday Grand Plan this year. This is week #1, and we are supposed to finish our lists and clean the front porch. I am about half-way on my lists, but I see no reason to clean the porch in August for company in December. It'll probably be buried in snow anyway. And I haven't any ideas for my children's gifts yet. But I know how many to get each and an approximate budget.

I am also trying to clean the dining room this week, because it is our school room, and school starts next week.

Update: Here is a post on my dining room progress so far.

Monday, August 27, 2007

One Word, No Explanations Meme

1. Yourself: stressed.
2. Your spouse: busy.
3. Your hair: curly.
4. Your mother: home.
5. Your father: retired.
6. Your favorite item: iBook.
7. Your dream last night: none.
8. Your favorite drink: coffee.
9. Your dream car: minivan.
10. The room you are in: dining.
11. Your ex: none.
12. Your fear: failure.
13. What you want to be in 10 years: same.
14. Who you hung out with last night: family.
15. What you're not: accomplished.
16. Muffins: bran.
17: One of your wish list items: books.
18: Time: fleeting.
19. The last thing you did: ate.
20. What you are wearing: clothes.
21. Your favorite weather: autumnal.
22. Your favorite book: Bible.
23. The last thing you ate: peach.
24. Your life: full.
25. Your mood: waery.
26. Your best friend: hubby.
27. What you're thinking about right now: library.
28. Your car: old.
29. What you are doing at the moment: typing.
30. Your summer: hot.
31. Your relationship status: married.
32. What is on your TV: nothing.
33. What is the weather like: hot.
34. When was the last time you laughed: today.

Hat-tip to: Fr. Erik.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

St. Maximilian Kolbe on Indifference

The most deadly poison of our times is indifference. And this happens, although the praise of God should know no limits. Let us strive, therefore, to praise Him to the greatest extent of our powers.

– St. Maximilian Kolbe


Hat-tip to Mary.

St. Frances of Rome on Duties

It is most laudable in an married woman to be devout, but she must never forget that she is a housewife. And sometimes she must leave God at the altar to find Him in her housekeeping.
St. Frances of Rome

Dodging the Lead Bullet (So Far)

Well, so far we have managed to dodge the lead paint recalls. None of our toys are included.

But, all of this has made me reconsider where we get our toys. I have been boycotting Wal-Mart since last fall because I don't like their politics. Now it is time to add China to the list. I don't like their politics, either. It crossed my mind today that perhaps, perhaps, all this lead isn't getting into our toys on accident.

See Mattel for the latest recall info.

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Update on Healthy Habit #2: Workouts

I have worked out four days a week for five weeks now. I feel terrific. I have no idea if I have lost any weight yet, but I do feel stronger in my "core." When I move I feel like I carry myself straighter and taller.

I am still in the "breaking in" phase of my workout. I am going very slowly, adding weights or reps every other week on a gradual basis until I build up to the actual workout in the The Fat-Burning Workout: From Fat to Firm in 24 Days.

Caveat: I do not recommend following the nutritional advice in the above book.

Are Parish Life Coordinators the Answer?

Father Philip Powell, OP makes an argument against so-called Parish Life Coordinators.

We are going through a major overhaul in our diocese right now, so this is timely for me. Our little city is losing three of it's current five Catholic parishes.

Hat-tip to Kelly, once again.

Physicians Getting Around Partial-Birth Abortion Ban

Best said by Kelly. This is why we need to ban ALL abortions.

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Jesus Meme

I've been tagged by Muddy Mama for a meme. If you are reading this and you haven't done it yet, TAG!

Five Things I Love About Jesus:

1. He Is God
What else can I say? He loves me and He made me and He keeps me.

2. He Is Man
He became one of us because He loves us SO MUCH.

3. His Teaching Is Simple
The two great commandments. Can it get much easier? Plus, He gives us countless parables to help us figure it all out.

4. His Church
We are the body and He is the Head. We are a part of Him. Wow.

5. His Mother
She is my mother, too. Again, wow.

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

The Wonders of Play Dough

The boys are playing with Play Dough. They have been at it for two hours! Two hours! They never do anything for two hours.

Plus, they are outside, on the porch. I am inside, with the air conditioner on. I can see them but barely hear them. Very peaceful, by my standards.

Sunday, August 5, 2007

ClearPlay Technology

A friend in our local homeschool group alerted me to the ClearPlay DVD players available online and at Target. We got ours hooked up yesterday, and I can't recommend it enough. It uses filters (little computer programs) to skip and/or mute objectionable content on DVDs.

It is an advancement over the CleanFlicks model, which violated copyright laws by making copies of movies, editing the copies, and renting the edited version. I can see why the Federal courts ruled in favor of the movie industry on this.

With the ClearPlay player and the filter to match your DVD, you can control content on owned or borrowed DVDs. The DVD itself is not altered at all, avoiding any copyright issues. The filters give the player commands which seemlessly mute out or skip past objectionable content in playback.

Check it out!

Nun Helped Pope John Paul II Learn English

Sister M. Tyburcia Szymczak, CSSF passed away July 2. Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord.