Random Friday Photo

I saw this cute Audi TT at the Tioga Gas Mart in June. I've never had an obsession for a sports car, but this one appeals to me, just on looks alone. That does not mean that I actually want one. I think I would have a hard time getting up out of the car since it is so low to the ground. However, I look for them when I'm out and delight in their cuteness.

Botched Fresco Restoration

While watching the noon news earlier this week, we saw the story of this fresco in a church in Spain which had been badly water-damaged. An octogenarian woman, tired of waiting for the painting to be restored, took it upon herself to finish the task. Here is the new version of Ecce Homo. Of course, now this church has become a tourist destination, and people have been parodying the work as you can see by the photos below.

First Day of School Photos

Today is the first day of school for CUSD. I could feel it as I saw parents walking their children to their classrooms. I continue to see it in Facebook all day as people post their first-day-of-school photos.

This is now such a tradition that people take multiple photos. In one morning. As far as I can tell, this photo is the only one of me on my first day as a student. It was 6th grade in Wichita, Kansas, taken in front of the garage door. Note the culottes, the lack of backpack (just a notebook), and Mom's shadow as she snaps the pic.

Dog Days of Summer

CUSD starts tomorrow - summer is coming to a close. So soon.

However, I don't start teaching for a little bit, so this is my week to get things organized before classes and lessons begin. Thus, a quiet time at home with little of interest to blog about.

However, I have written a bit about the project I've been working on for the past two days in my music blog, which you can read here.

Succulent Crazy

We've taken to wandering through Pitzer College on our evening walks lately. We've wandered through parts of the campus we've never ventured through before, marveled at the new dorms which are just opening, along with the vast outdoor spaces. Mostly, though, we have been taken with the enormous amounts of cactus and succulents that abound. Last night as we strolled, H took about 30 photos of plants and arrangements he liked so that we could have ideas for our own yard. He's already made several of his own succulent gardens in a pot (see here) and has taken over a section of the garden which seemed to grow nothing else. He has designs on other parts of the yard, as well, and has now taken a little succulent pot to his office. This appears to be an ongoing hobby which I actually encourage.

Charlie Weaver and the Monkey

A few nights ago we were watching Pawn Stars, and it made me think about two old toys we have in the cellar.  (Yes, we have a real cellar here in So. Cal, although you have to access it from outside.) H's grandfather had given them to him, and we were keeping them safe in a box.

While watching people bring in their stuff on the show, many said that they were wanting to sell because the items were just taking up storage space. It got me thinking about these little guys - Charlie Weaver and The Monkey. 

Of course, we thought it would be fun to see what they might be worth, and after a gander through eBay, it was pretty clear that the condition of these antiques rendered them sentimentally valuable. They have seen better days, and they don't have their original boxes.

I believe that the purpose of having these guys is for our own enjoyment, and we can hardly enjoy them when they are hiding in a box, so yesterday morning I pulled them out of hiding and placed them in H's newly decorated study (replacing all of L's Breyer Horses) where we can look at them all we want.

Breakfast Plans Diverted

Last night I had a brilliant idea. Trying out the new Crepes place in the Packing House sounded like the perfect breakfast plan. After all, their menu boasts breakfast crepes, and even without the descriptions, several of them sounded intriguing.

After walking through the sleepy, sleepy Village (a little activity at Walter's, Starbucks and Le Pain Quotidian), we came to a very closed Crepes de Paris. We thought breakfast might be good to eat at 8:40, but apparently, even the people running this new endeavor are not sure when breakfast will be. Except on Sundays. We "made do" with breakfast as the very busy Some Crust which is ALWAYS open for breakfast.

Random Friday Photo

This week we received an Orel Hershiser bobblehead from friends of ours. My husband bears a resemblance to the 1988 Cy Young winner, or at least he did back then. Occasionally, during that year, people would do a double-take and look at H to see if he was that pitcher.

Freshening Up for a New Year

I am going to dedicate the next week to getting ready for the New Year. Those of us in education (teachers and students) know that the real new year begins in August or September. Today I finished up Summer String Camp (you can read about it here) and now I think I am ready to prepare for the start of school.

Getting a jump on the process, we had our lovely daughter paint H's new study. We worked around the brown in the room and chose a cherry yellow to brighten things up. We took the opportunity to also wash the windows. I took the opportunity to take photos while it is still clean...

I am definitely happy to have the bed and other things out of the hallway and dining room.

One room down, more to go! However, the other rooms will only get a good cleaning, not a new wall color.

Timeline!

Oh, the awfulness! Oh, how dare they? So many of my Facebook friends are complaining loud and clear, "Don't make me get Timeline!" Well, I am here to tell you that I went over to the dark side a little while ago, and I am still alive, and I still spend too much time social networking. I'm just not sure exactly what all the fuss is about. 

Frankly, I think the visual appeal of Timeline is better than the old wall. Yes, the two columns are a little confusing - items can change sides. I think I can handle it.

Since all I hear are moans about changing, I wondered what all the reasoning is behind this heel-dragging. Of course, I Googled "why people hate timeline" and came up with a few items. 

You can *gasp* see past posts more easily. Don't want people to see those embarrassing photos and posts? Don't put them up in the first place, or take them down. Yes, I know that once on the internet, always on the internet, but I guess I don't believe that people are really going to try to dig up all kinds of dirt on me. I feel as though I am a pinprick in a galaxy. 

Old Wall

Timeline - visually more appealing

I read some complaints about how it is arranged by decade, and how it has a "born" entry. I am sure that you have a reason to dislike this change foisted upon you, but really, is it worth all that effort to be so vehement? It's another change that one day you will undoubtedly long for when those sneaky folks at Facebook make another drastic "improvement". Remember, you probably complained about the wall you have now when it first came out.

I'm guessing that people are just resistant to change in general. I, for one, enjoy new things (mostly!).

In the end you probably won't be able to fight it, and once you're in, why not make the most of it? You can Google "great timeline covers" and get some inspiration to be creative with your cover photo and profile pic.