random musings
-
Bug
Nothing connects people quite like a stomach bug. First, there’s the line of transmission. Person to person to person. Who gave it to whom? It’s not enough to get the bug. One must know where it came from. Preferably so one knows whom to blame. My recent bug came via a vomit bath from my Continue reading
-
The Pedometer Contest
Oh, the tyranny of a tiny purple belt attachment. The health care provider at work was so kind as to give each plan participant a pedometer recently. They also are sponsoring a contest to encourage us to be more active, become more healthy, and thereby cost the plan less to maintain us. I see their Continue reading
-
In search of green
St. Paddy’s Day is upon us along with another Winter Weather Advisory for 2-5 inches of snow. Since it’s likely the only green I’ll be seeing tomorrow will be on my shamrock scarf, I go outside this dismal afternoon to look for green. It’s not that I expect to find the riotous bloom of tulips and daffodils. I just want signs of Continue reading
-
A Bionic Language Nerd watches les Oympiques d’hiver à Ϲочи
Having studied some Russian, I would have loved to attend the Olympics in Sochi. Well, except for a few minor issues like the threat of terrorist attack and the ridiculous construction issues at the hotels. Why go to Russia for that? We have cyber attacks at Target, shootings at the mall, and construction road blockages Continue reading
-
Frozen Fog
Frozen fog? I’ve listened to a lot of weather reports over the years, but this morning’s was a first. Frozen fog was causing accidents all over Carroll County. The pre-caffeinated brain has trouble conceptualizing this. How can fog freeze? Isn’t that oxymoronic? Isn’t fog water suspended in the air? If it freezes, wouldn’t that make Continue reading
-
Are you ready?
It is the dreaded count-down-to-Christmas question. It is the opener for probably every conversation during December…especially among women. On Friday, this question launched a teaching colleague into a rant on how much cooking she had to do for the holidays and how she was never going to find time to do it. Then everyone else in Continue reading
-
Christmas Trauma
I don’t know whether my youngest daughter had the most traumatic childhood ever or whether she’s just the best at guilting me over it. For years, she has been giving me grief for not buying a Baby’s First Ornament for her the year she was born. Her oldest sister has a lovely Hallmark ornament from her Continue reading
-
T-Day and counting
It’s late November and I don’t want to hear any talk about Christmas music. There is one tune in my head this weekend before Thanksgiving. Dun dun da da dun, dun dun dun dun…. That’s right, cue the Rocky theme. Pull up the computer file of lists, lists, and more lists. Light the Autumn Harvest scented candles Continue reading
-
Taming the beast: A tale of customer service
A very sweet student confessed last week, “Sometimes I wish I had a good reason to punch someone in the face. I think it would be really fun.” After an initial double-take on my part, we went on to discuss how we love those scenes in movies where the girl hauls off and slugs someone Continue reading
Slightly Off the Grid 