Ramshackle, it seems at first glance. The paint peels away from the columns and siding, and weeds and bushes envelope the screened-in porch. Michael and I were taking a stroll through the quiet town of Greeleyville, SC, the birthplace of my Granny and Grandaddy and many an ancestor, when we spied this seemingly abandoned home.
I exclaimed in delight as I took it in. A gorgeous big porch, a carport that was likely a buggy-port originally, a screened-in side porch whose overgrowth simply gave it a sheltered and slightly tropical feel... The front door has a glass handle, and there is another screened-in side porch in the rear of the house just off the kitchen, complete with a screened-in protruding shelf for cooling pies, as Michael explained! The home is utterly messy, dusty, and enchanting.
I have been so sad to see my grandparents and others of their generation make 'improvements' to their lovely old homes. They have lowered their cathedral ceilings and closed-in the fabulous screened-in porches. I used to harbor a secret hope that I would one day inherit my grandparent's home, but this dream fizzled slowly as I sadly witnessed the continuing alterations that they have made... When Michael and I spotted this home, though, empty and neglected thought it may be, my heart beat faster and I gushed with enthusiasm. It is even grander and more historic than my grandparents' home...AND it has a second story. It is a beautiful old home without any of the unfortunate alterations. After some time, Michael noticed a for sale sign by the main road, and we found out that the house is being offered for only $60,000. If only...
Anyhow, I have enough trouble with maintenance on my own modern, current home, and I have witnessed how others have exhausted their every vacation on maintaining second homes. I hope that someone else comes along and buys and restores the beautiful old home, though it seems as though the real eventuality is that it will be bulldozed to create a strip mall along that main road at some point, as the neighboring land is being sold as commercial real estate.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Ridiculous Sentimentality!
Always correlating...in Sophie Kinsella's Can You Keep a Secret?, Emma is trying to convince her grandfather to dispose of a bunch of attic junk, and she is trying to help him go through the stuff. 'You don't need this, do you?' she asks over and over, to simply be rebuffed with his explanations of the meaningfulness of every single item! Emma picks up an old yo-yo and her grandfather wistfully explains how the yo-yo belonged to Jimmy, a boy he befriended when he was 10 years old for only a day, and he never saw Jimmy again, but he'll never forget him.
I laughed until the tears streamed when I heard that, as I sometimes feel about that corny and nostalgic! Anyhow, I had to share that, as my post below makes me unofficially Emma's grandfather!
Unfortunately, my young'uns and husband are the exact same way... We're a household of ridiculous sentimentality! :)
I laughed until the tears streamed when I heard that, as I sometimes feel about that corny and nostalgic! Anyhow, I had to share that, as my post below makes me unofficially Emma's grandfather!
Unfortunately, my young'uns and husband are the exact same way... We're a household of ridiculous sentimentality! :)
Intuition and Kindred Spirits
I have often wondered what it is about a few certain people that draws us to them. It's as though we can sense that they are kindred spirits. I rarely feel that kind of connection with my quite-Southern relatives, but there are rare exceptions, apparently!
A second cousin (that's the technically correct level, but my relatives would probably call us third cousins...) just got married over the weekend. Jennifer is the granddaughter of my beloved Uncle Richard, younger brother of my granddad Emmett. Being part of Uncle Richard's family, she has been present at most of the family get-togethers, and her mama, Sue, is pivotal in coordinating and hosting such events. Hence, I happen to know this cousin somewhat from the family get-togethers.
Jennifer and I have spoken just a few times, and she once showed me her neighboring cute and cozy studio apartment (in which I delightedly noticed the entire Harry Potter collection of books), but really we are mostly strangers. I have always felt that we could be friends, though it has only been in theory and I have wondered why I felt like I knew her, why she seemed like such a wonderful friend candidate!
I was delighted to be invited to her wedding over the past weekend, and, after watching the wedding, I am just bursting with exuberation. I just KNEW that she and I were of a similar mindset... Despite the dubious fact that she was married in a Pentecostal Holiness Church, think fundamentalist central, it was the most perfect wedding I have ever attended. The vows were unique and thoughtful, the bride and groom lit memory candles for Uncle Richard and a few others, the service started with incredibly moving Celtic music, moved to country love ballads, and ended with "Another One Bites the Dust" as the wedding party danced out of the service!
The church was fairly small, but it was packed with loving family and friends. Every moment of the service seemed meaningful, and the couple looked quite loving. Later, when they cut the cake, I even guessed correctly that they would be sweet and NOT smash the cake in each other's faces! Sweetness trumped their wonderful senses of humor...just perfect...sigh!
So, despite the fact that it was in the Deep South, in a Pentecostal Holiness Church, and that she was marrying a football player, I was elated and overcome with the beauty and depth of the ceremony. I somehow think that Jennifer is a kindred spirit...more than just kin, y'know?
Anyhow, I doubt that I ever become close to Jennifer at all, but experiencing that simple yet most beautiful of ceremonies redoubled my trust in our innate instincts and feelings. Of the many weddings, many far more expensive and elaborate, that I have been to, this was the loveliest for me personally. Not the grandest, by any means, but I had that feeling about Jennifer...that she has depth and a similar vibe to me--I was going to say similar taste, but that sounds so whimsical and arbitrary. It's the truth, though. Isn't it exciting when we resonate with someone? When our tastes and opinions are likewise shared by a completely different person?
Not that we ever entirely share opinions with anyone... in fact, I don't know Jennifer very well and couldn't say at all what her opinions are. Taste, though, is definitely in line...her wedding choices and, of course, Harry Potter, totally resonate!
Hmm, what is my point? It's not that I've found a new wonderful friend, as I doubt I ever have more than a superficial interaction with her in the future. It's just that I find it fascinating that we can 'feel' so much more about a person than we should be able to in simply meeting them and having a couple of light conversations. It's simply thrilling to find that my inexplicable feeling of connection with her is being validated by witnessing the most lovely wedding I've ever seen...
I think sometimes it's wise to simply relax and trust our intuitions a bit. We don't have to measure and calculate everything. Our intuitions will often guide us down the road that is most suitably fitted to us, without our knowing 'why' we know what or who to choose.
A second cousin (that's the technically correct level, but my relatives would probably call us third cousins...) just got married over the weekend. Jennifer is the granddaughter of my beloved Uncle Richard, younger brother of my granddad Emmett. Being part of Uncle Richard's family, she has been present at most of the family get-togethers, and her mama, Sue, is pivotal in coordinating and hosting such events. Hence, I happen to know this cousin somewhat from the family get-togethers.
Jennifer and I have spoken just a few times, and she once showed me her neighboring cute and cozy studio apartment (in which I delightedly noticed the entire Harry Potter collection of books), but really we are mostly strangers. I have always felt that we could be friends, though it has only been in theory and I have wondered why I felt like I knew her, why she seemed like such a wonderful friend candidate!
I was delighted to be invited to her wedding over the past weekend, and, after watching the wedding, I am just bursting with exuberation. I just KNEW that she and I were of a similar mindset... Despite the dubious fact that she was married in a Pentecostal Holiness Church, think fundamentalist central, it was the most perfect wedding I have ever attended. The vows were unique and thoughtful, the bride and groom lit memory candles for Uncle Richard and a few others, the service started with incredibly moving Celtic music, moved to country love ballads, and ended with "Another One Bites the Dust" as the wedding party danced out of the service!
The church was fairly small, but it was packed with loving family and friends. Every moment of the service seemed meaningful, and the couple looked quite loving. Later, when they cut the cake, I even guessed correctly that they would be sweet and NOT smash the cake in each other's faces! Sweetness trumped their wonderful senses of humor...just perfect...sigh!
So, despite the fact that it was in the Deep South, in a Pentecostal Holiness Church, and that she was marrying a football player, I was elated and overcome with the beauty and depth of the ceremony. I somehow think that Jennifer is a kindred spirit...more than just kin, y'know?
Anyhow, I doubt that I ever become close to Jennifer at all, but experiencing that simple yet most beautiful of ceremonies redoubled my trust in our innate instincts and feelings. Of the many weddings, many far more expensive and elaborate, that I have been to, this was the loveliest for me personally. Not the grandest, by any means, but I had that feeling about Jennifer...that she has depth and a similar vibe to me--I was going to say similar taste, but that sounds so whimsical and arbitrary. It's the truth, though. Isn't it exciting when we resonate with someone? When our tastes and opinions are likewise shared by a completely different person?
Not that we ever entirely share opinions with anyone... in fact, I don't know Jennifer very well and couldn't say at all what her opinions are. Taste, though, is definitely in line...her wedding choices and, of course, Harry Potter, totally resonate!
Hmm, what is my point? It's not that I've found a new wonderful friend, as I doubt I ever have more than a superficial interaction with her in the future. It's just that I find it fascinating that we can 'feel' so much more about a person than we should be able to in simply meeting them and having a couple of light conversations. It's simply thrilling to find that my inexplicable feeling of connection with her is being validated by witnessing the most lovely wedding I've ever seen...
I think sometimes it's wise to simply relax and trust our intuitions a bit. We don't have to measure and calculate everything. Our intuitions will often guide us down the road that is most suitably fitted to us, without our knowing 'why' we know what or who to choose.
Friday, January 22, 2010
More Genetic Analysis...
Michael's mother, Elaine, just received back her genetic analysis, and we're baffled! She shows a bunch of Eastern European genes that showed up much more faintly on Michael's chart. She has a northern Portuguese blip, but not nearly so strong as his--and she has NO British or Irish markers. Peculiar!
I did double check the specific genes, and Michael did inherit a matching gene from each one tested. I sort of wonder if all the British mixed with the Eastern European and her blip of real Portuguese to make him look much more authentically Portuguese than either Eastern European or British alone! Can't wait to test his Dad and see how it all meshes out! Perhaps his dad has his own set of Spanish/Portuguese markers!
Anyhow, I suspect that, while the technical markers seem to be accurately identified, there may be too few tested to give completely 'true' results on our countries of origin, especially for us Americans with greatly mixed heritages. However, Elaine obviously must have some Eastern European origins, which showed up on both her and Michael's profiles.
I did double check the specific genes, and Michael did inherit a matching gene from each one tested. I sort of wonder if all the British mixed with the Eastern European and her blip of real Portuguese to make him look much more authentically Portuguese than either Eastern European or British alone! Can't wait to test his Dad and see how it all meshes out! Perhaps his dad has his own set of Spanish/Portuguese markers!
Anyhow, I suspect that, while the technical markers seem to be accurately identified, there may be too few tested to give completely 'true' results on our countries of origin, especially for us Americans with greatly mixed heritages. However, Elaine obviously must have some Eastern European origins, which showed up on both her and Michael's profiles.
A Warrior
Alex will be a warrior in his school's opera tonight. He's singing a war song with a group of boys, and he's quite excited about his suitably manly role! The opera is a huge annual event for Charles Ellis Montessori, and there is great enthusiasm every January throughout the school about it. Personally, I wish the children had all the starring roles and that they chose a less expensive production option, but it is nice.
P.S. He did a fabulous job! It was great!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Museum Trip
We spent the last couple of days in Atlanta, at the High Museum and the Fernbank Museum of Natural History. It was a really wonderful family trip, truly!
We stayed in a quite unimpressive Super 8 motel within walking distance of the High, and I think perhaps the funnest thing we did the whole long weekend was order in Chinese food on Sunday night. We NEVER order in, and after a long day at the High Museum, we were all completely tickled to get to kick back and relax in our hotel room rather than go out yet again. We played a GO FISH art game and watched TV and stuffed ourselves! Michael did go get a soda and water for us from the neighboring Kroger, and we were tickled that he came back with a Britta filtration pitcher rather than a jug of water! It'll be our new travel accessory!
I spent quite a bit of time ogling my new Queen Marie Antoinette necklace and bracelet. I don't know when I'll ever wear it, but boy do I have the bling! It's beautiful and utterly ostentatious, not generally my style, but I was totally drawn to it and then sold by the 60% off pricing! Honestly, though, it'll be lovely for an opera or other formal event (but now I need a dress!).
Oh, right, I suppose I should mention the exhibits! Frankly, this exhibit could be entitled 'we wish for a da Vinci exhibit'. There was fabulous art there by da Vinci's mentor and students. There were several incredible sculptures recently 'suggested' as attributable to Leonardo da Vinci, which the museum pounced on with fervor, including making posters and book jacket covers of this exhibit from them. Yes, there was some verifiable Leonardo da Vinci art...we got to see many notes and sketches from his scrapbooks! Okay, and we did get one painting...an unfinished painting of St. Jerome and a lion.
I only realized that this exhibit would not have any of his most famous paintings just before we took the trip. I've been spoiled with many exhibits featuring many priceless and famous paintings in the past, so I assumed that this would be similar, but I suppose the institutions that own Leonardo's paintings keep an iron grip on them. I mean, how disappointed would Parisian tourists be if they went to the Louvre and missed the Mona Lisa or Madonna of the Rocks? After prepping for the visit with the kids by reading so many kids' books about Leonardo and watching a film about him, I think the kids were also a little bummed not to see any of the famous paintings we'd been discussing. The quite fun kids' audio guide through the exhibits makes all the difference, though, and I'm so glad the High Museum that kids' audio feature for their special exhibits.
The kids do seem to enjoy the museum visits, especially since their sometimes-skinflint mama suddenly has a hole in her pocket! I LOVE buying stuff at the museum stores, and they inevitably get at least one new item there. Fiona left with a big stuffed horse and Alex chose a DVD about the First Emperor of China (the last exhibit we went to see). The cafe gets its share of the money, too, though I have to admit I'm less than impressed with Atlanta's museum cafes.
Monday's museum visit was to the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, which I was surprised to find was extremely kid-oriented. Michael laughed at my surprise and said, "Who do you think wants to go and see dinosaurs?" Yes, actually, this was true for us as well, as Alex's former teacher recommended the museum because of his paleontology passion. The kids had quite a fun time in the optical illusion room, and we joined an African Safari through the IMAX 'experience'. I didn't spend quite as much in that gift shop, but the kids 'panned' for crystals and I bought a light prism and a gyroscope 'for them', theoretically! When they didn't open the crystal right away, I took it and started playing with it myself!
We bought the Family membership, which I'm always a sucker for, even though we live so far away from Atlanta. The memberships are often no more than the cost of two individual family visits, and I always feel special in getting the 'member' discount at the stores and cafes! I was happily surprised, though, to find out that there is reciprocal membership (translate as 'free admission') at a large number of science centers, including one in Hilton Head, so I suspect that we'll be busy this next summer with quite a few science center visits!
We stayed in a quite unimpressive Super 8 motel within walking distance of the High, and I think perhaps the funnest thing we did the whole long weekend was order in Chinese food on Sunday night. We NEVER order in, and after a long day at the High Museum, we were all completely tickled to get to kick back and relax in our hotel room rather than go out yet again. We played a GO FISH art game and watched TV and stuffed ourselves! Michael did go get a soda and water for us from the neighboring Kroger, and we were tickled that he came back with a Britta filtration pitcher rather than a jug of water! It'll be our new travel accessory!
I spent quite a bit of time ogling my new Queen Marie Antoinette necklace and bracelet. I don't know when I'll ever wear it, but boy do I have the bling! It's beautiful and utterly ostentatious, not generally my style, but I was totally drawn to it and then sold by the 60% off pricing! Honestly, though, it'll be lovely for an opera or other formal event (but now I need a dress!).
Oh, right, I suppose I should mention the exhibits! Frankly, this exhibit could be entitled 'we wish for a da Vinci exhibit'. There was fabulous art there by da Vinci's mentor and students. There were several incredible sculptures recently 'suggested' as attributable to Leonardo da Vinci, which the museum pounced on with fervor, including making posters and book jacket covers of this exhibit from them. Yes, there was some verifiable Leonardo da Vinci art...we got to see many notes and sketches from his scrapbooks! Okay, and we did get one painting...an unfinished painting of St. Jerome and a lion.
I only realized that this exhibit would not have any of his most famous paintings just before we took the trip. I've been spoiled with many exhibits featuring many priceless and famous paintings in the past, so I assumed that this would be similar, but I suppose the institutions that own Leonardo's paintings keep an iron grip on them. I mean, how disappointed would Parisian tourists be if they went to the Louvre and missed the Mona Lisa or Madonna of the Rocks? After prepping for the visit with the kids by reading so many kids' books about Leonardo and watching a film about him, I think the kids were also a little bummed not to see any of the famous paintings we'd been discussing. The quite fun kids' audio guide through the exhibits makes all the difference, though, and I'm so glad the High Museum that kids' audio feature for their special exhibits.
The kids do seem to enjoy the museum visits, especially since their sometimes-skinflint mama suddenly has a hole in her pocket! I LOVE buying stuff at the museum stores, and they inevitably get at least one new item there. Fiona left with a big stuffed horse and Alex chose a DVD about the First Emperor of China (the last exhibit we went to see). The cafe gets its share of the money, too, though I have to admit I'm less than impressed with Atlanta's museum cafes.
Monday's museum visit was to the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, which I was surprised to find was extremely kid-oriented. Michael laughed at my surprise and said, "Who do you think wants to go and see dinosaurs?" Yes, actually, this was true for us as well, as Alex's former teacher recommended the museum because of his paleontology passion. The kids had quite a fun time in the optical illusion room, and we joined an African Safari through the IMAX 'experience'. I didn't spend quite as much in that gift shop, but the kids 'panned' for crystals and I bought a light prism and a gyroscope 'for them', theoretically! When they didn't open the crystal right away, I took it and started playing with it myself!
We bought the Family membership, which I'm always a sucker for, even though we live so far away from Atlanta. The memberships are often no more than the cost of two individual family visits, and I always feel special in getting the 'member' discount at the stores and cafes! I was happily surprised, though, to find out that there is reciprocal membership (translate as 'free admission') at a large number of science centers, including one in Hilton Head, so I suspect that we'll be busy this next summer with quite a few science center visits!
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Astrology Bits
Today heralded the arrival of my momentary, fairly regular blip into astrology world! I picked up a new book, The Only Astrology Book You'll Ever Need by Joanna Woolfolk, and I have once again dedicated a tiny bit of my life to trying to understand the art.
Honestly, I secretly hope to one day broach the complicated topic of horoscopes, which truly brilliant folks like Nostradamus were able to use to gain great insight. I read today the first generalized how-it's-done outline that even began to penetrate that utter darkness in my understanding, but it's still too faint and vague for me to relay that to you!
I spent time on deciphering my own birth chart. The aspects (angles) between the different planets in the chart create varying influences on the effects of the individual planets. I was immensely proud of myself today for creating a table (not original...it was based on another book's table) on Word to enter those aspects for a birth chart. I now have an instantaneous, printable aspect chart! This sounds incredibly simple, but sometimes I can't proceed and make advances until I have a system to reference what I've been through, and I'd always tried to draw the big table by hand in the past, which was a huge disincentive to go there! (The astrology aspect table, though far more simple, is thus functioning for me in astrology analogously to the Family Tree Maker program for genealogy--all of those ever-branching family lines were impossible to organize until I had the program, and until then I was often unable to find elemental information! Blessings to that computer program!)
So, I now officially have a functional aspect chart for my own birth chart. I entered the aspects and then created a simpler chart with only the most significant aspects, as the first had far too much to collate on it.
Today's hours with astrology were a great review, and I found out a couple of new things about my chart. My chart's ruling planet is the moon, which is in Pisces. This is apparently a quite artistic placement, as both Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci had this moon sign! Anyhow, I only just learned how to discern the chart's ruling planet; it's the ascendant sign's ruling planet, so mine is the moon since my ascendant is in Cancer and Cancer's ruling planet is the moon. I, of course, identified with all the positive Piscean moon traits that were mentioned...artistic, extremely intuitive, etc. However, she strongly suggested that we Piscean moons have a tendency to see reality through our own 'rose-colored' filters, which I strongly balk at and argue that the rest of my chart counters this influence! Funny how I balk at the negative, but the positive seems dead-on!
Oh, and I laughingly texted Michael today about how this astrology stuff was just a load of rubbish when I found out that my one significant aspect for my sun sign suggested that I am 'conceited, overbearing, and indolent'! Hmmph! Well, I say they're just jealous that I have high self-esteem and lead a relaxed lifestyle! :)
The 'synastry' between charts shows compatibility, and I was struck once again with how well my chart meshes with Michael's. It is truly amazing...we possess nearly every indicator for compatibility that is listed!
Here are some of the big compatibility keys:
1. Ascendant/sun sign matches. If Michael presents with the Ascendant as Gemini, my sun sign Gemini recognizes it and understands!
2. Sun Sign/Sun Sign positive aspect. Michael and I have a very sweet trine between his Aquarius and my Gemini sun signs.
3. Moon Sign/Moon Sign positive aspect. Michael and I have water sign moons, which are inherently compatible, though they don't form a technical trine. Moon signs have to do with emotions and intuition.
4. Venus/Mars conjunction. Michael's Mars and my Venus are both in Taurus. The planets of Venus and Mars have rough associations with love/receptive pleasure and energy/sexual energy, respectively. You can see, then, why this is helpful with compatibility!
Anyhow, these are very specific compatibility keys...they are presented here pretty fully, and Michael and I happen to work aspects in every one of these ways. No, I didn't leave out, for example, the Asc/Asc or Mercury/Venus aspects...those were not particularly mentioned in the 'synastry' section!
I suppose that I won't go into each of my chart's aspects or other specifics, but I am a bit hung up on that whole ruling planet thing tonight!
Intuition plays a HUGE role in my life, and I see connections everywhere (I suppose I'm extrapolating 'intuition' as being related to extrasensory perception in general). If you've read my blog entries over time, you'll see a huge number of 'uncanny' coincidences. I see them numerous times per day, often. Let's see, today I was listening to a 'Shopaholic' book and a museum visit played a major part in today's bit--just before we are taking a trip to see Leonardo da Vinci's exhibit at the High Museum! Michael and I were speaking of a distant friend last night, and she sent me an e-mail today, which was a fairly unusual occurrence. Hmm...well, honestly, I haven't felt completely inundated with coincidences today, but it does happen daily and I am often incredulous at the strength of the 'coincidences' even more than the sheer quantity!
While I'm being utterly woo-woo, I will mention that Alex as Apollo wasn't a random choice. Apollo was god of the sun, and my boy wakes up with the sun and loves light in general. We joked that he 'worshiped' the light when he was a tiny baby, as he would stare and stare at the nightlight and coo at it endlessly. These days, I often waken to find his room light on, the hallway light on, and the bathroom light on, as a single nighttime somnambulant trek to the restroom merits all of these lights, and he apparently isn't even bothered by the bright room lights as he goes back to bed! Hmm, not sure why this seems pertinent, except that casting Alex as Apollo felt right, as though we were recognizing this curious aspect of his being. Also, the ruling 'planet' for Alex's chart is the Sun, as Leo is his Ascendant, but that didn't have anything to do with our choice of Apollo on a conscious level! It was, I suppose, an intuitive manifestation, and this is just one example of how my Piscean moon affects our lives!
Honestly, I secretly hope to one day broach the complicated topic of horoscopes, which truly brilliant folks like Nostradamus were able to use to gain great insight. I read today the first generalized how-it's-done outline that even began to penetrate that utter darkness in my understanding, but it's still too faint and vague for me to relay that to you!
I spent time on deciphering my own birth chart. The aspects (angles) between the different planets in the chart create varying influences on the effects of the individual planets. I was immensely proud of myself today for creating a table (not original...it was based on another book's table) on Word to enter those aspects for a birth chart. I now have an instantaneous, printable aspect chart! This sounds incredibly simple, but sometimes I can't proceed and make advances until I have a system to reference what I've been through, and I'd always tried to draw the big table by hand in the past, which was a huge disincentive to go there! (The astrology aspect table, though far more simple, is thus functioning for me in astrology analogously to the Family Tree Maker program for genealogy--all of those ever-branching family lines were impossible to organize until I had the program, and until then I was often unable to find elemental information! Blessings to that computer program!)
So, I now officially have a functional aspect chart for my own birth chart. I entered the aspects and then created a simpler chart with only the most significant aspects, as the first had far too much to collate on it.
Today's hours with astrology were a great review, and I found out a couple of new things about my chart. My chart's ruling planet is the moon, which is in Pisces. This is apparently a quite artistic placement, as both Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci had this moon sign! Anyhow, I only just learned how to discern the chart's ruling planet; it's the ascendant sign's ruling planet, so mine is the moon since my ascendant is in Cancer and Cancer's ruling planet is the moon. I, of course, identified with all the positive Piscean moon traits that were mentioned...artistic, extremely intuitive, etc. However, she strongly suggested that we Piscean moons have a tendency to see reality through our own 'rose-colored' filters, which I strongly balk at and argue that the rest of my chart counters this influence! Funny how I balk at the negative, but the positive seems dead-on!
Oh, and I laughingly texted Michael today about how this astrology stuff was just a load of rubbish when I found out that my one significant aspect for my sun sign suggested that I am 'conceited, overbearing, and indolent'! Hmmph! Well, I say they're just jealous that I have high self-esteem and lead a relaxed lifestyle! :)
The 'synastry' between charts shows compatibility, and I was struck once again with how well my chart meshes with Michael's. It is truly amazing...we possess nearly every indicator for compatibility that is listed!
Here are some of the big compatibility keys:
1. Ascendant/sun sign matches. If Michael presents with the Ascendant as Gemini, my sun sign Gemini recognizes it and understands!
2. Sun Sign/Sun Sign positive aspect. Michael and I have a very sweet trine between his Aquarius and my Gemini sun signs.
3. Moon Sign/Moon Sign positive aspect. Michael and I have water sign moons, which are inherently compatible, though they don't form a technical trine. Moon signs have to do with emotions and intuition.
4. Venus/Mars conjunction. Michael's Mars and my Venus are both in Taurus. The planets of Venus and Mars have rough associations with love/receptive pleasure and energy/sexual energy, respectively. You can see, then, why this is helpful with compatibility!
Anyhow, these are very specific compatibility keys...they are presented here pretty fully, and Michael and I happen to work aspects in every one of these ways. No, I didn't leave out, for example, the Asc/Asc or Mercury/Venus aspects...those were not particularly mentioned in the 'synastry' section!
I suppose that I won't go into each of my chart's aspects or other specifics, but I am a bit hung up on that whole ruling planet thing tonight!
Intuition plays a HUGE role in my life, and I see connections everywhere (I suppose I'm extrapolating 'intuition' as being related to extrasensory perception in general). If you've read my blog entries over time, you'll see a huge number of 'uncanny' coincidences. I see them numerous times per day, often. Let's see, today I was listening to a 'Shopaholic' book and a museum visit played a major part in today's bit--just before we are taking a trip to see Leonardo da Vinci's exhibit at the High Museum! Michael and I were speaking of a distant friend last night, and she sent me an e-mail today, which was a fairly unusual occurrence. Hmm...well, honestly, I haven't felt completely inundated with coincidences today, but it does happen daily and I am often incredulous at the strength of the 'coincidences' even more than the sheer quantity!
While I'm being utterly woo-woo, I will mention that Alex as Apollo wasn't a random choice. Apollo was god of the sun, and my boy wakes up with the sun and loves light in general. We joked that he 'worshiped' the light when he was a tiny baby, as he would stare and stare at the nightlight and coo at it endlessly. These days, I often waken to find his room light on, the hallway light on, and the bathroom light on, as a single nighttime somnambulant trek to the restroom merits all of these lights, and he apparently isn't even bothered by the bright room lights as he goes back to bed! Hmm, not sure why this seems pertinent, except that casting Alex as Apollo felt right, as though we were recognizing this curious aspect of his being. Also, the ruling 'planet' for Alex's chart is the Sun, as Leo is his Ascendant, but that didn't have anything to do with our choice of Apollo on a conscious level! It was, I suppose, an intuitive manifestation, and this is just one example of how my Piscean moon affects our lives!
Friday, January 15, 2010
Demeter and Persephone
Persephone (Savannah) and Demeter (Kasi)My talented neighbor, Angela, created these lovely costumes for her girls in only a couple of hours! The flower head wreaths are a perfect touch for the goddesses of spring and harvest.
Mythological Demeter and Persephone were mother and daughter, respectively, and we chose these girls' 'roles' for the party immediately, given our neighbors' interest in gardening and the girls' sweet characters! Kasi is also rather motherly towards her little sister, so it was perfect!
Of course, that's perfect in my opinion! The day after Kasi received the invitation, she asked me with a slightly pleased but perplexed expression, "What's this thing about Demeter and Persephone? I don't get it!" It was so cute! We do dwell in fantasy land quite a lot, and our neighbors are lovely and far more grounded folks than our brood, though of course we may have been confused, too, if we hadn't been reading up on Greek mythology!
We are so lucky to have such compatible and helpful neighbors! They are always game for all our quirks, such as the pet chickens, vegetarian cookouts and Greek mythology birthday parties! I like to think we pleasantly amuse them :). We hope they remain our neighbors for a very long time!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Genealogical Roots
DNA testing is the new super-quick genealogy substitute! At least, for me it does sort of work that way.
Some genealogists are interested in finding out how everyone's connected, and they want to know all their cousins and who they're distantly related to in this modern world. Frankly, though, I'm only really interested if they're my direct ancestor or quite closely related. I figure we're all connected eventually, somehow, so all that genealogy work is just 'semantics', in a sense.
I started researching my genealogy when I was 12. I'd heard about the 'melting pot' that was America, and I was curious to find out about my ancestors. I started by interviewing my grandparents and getting the basics about them and their parents and grandparents. I also interviewed a couple of other relatives at family reunions. When I went to college, I lived in downtown Charleston with Michael in a tiny studio apartment near the library. I spent hours and hours perusing the old South Carolina census microfilm there, and I did find a huge amount of information on certain ancestral lines. I also started borrowing old ancestral pictures and having them photocopied.
It was fascinating to make the connections while looking at neighbors on the microfilm, and much of it felt like detective work. The simplest, best, and quite common Census clue was found when the widowed mother-in-law had moved in with a family. I could often immediately go back a whole extra generation with that new surname and even more, up the paternal side, once I'd found her earlier family census records.
I've had various bouts with my genealogy hobby over the years. I have a great computer program called Family Tree Maker that helps keep it all organized and accessible. I also found quite a bit of information on-line. However, I've also followed some wrong leads on-line and received tons of information on incorrect family lines.
Between this confusion and the very real fact that we can't be 100% sure that even the purported parents are the real parents, I have lost much of my enthusiasm. I always had a goal of tracing my roots to their original countries of heritage, but so much of it seems guess-work that I'm a bit disheartened.
Anyhow, all this to say that I've been very excited about the advent of genetic DNA analysis looking for heritage patterns. I'd been told many times that I was Scotch-Irish by my family, and I was a bit disappointed to receive results declaring me primarily...Scotch-Irish. It's alright, I suppose, but I had been hoping for some more exotic results, or at least some strong French genes or SOMETHING!
For a Christmas 'surprise', I had Michael's analysis done. This time we hit the jackpot. Mr. Always Irishman found out that he is quite a bit Portuguese--about equal Portuguese to his northern Irish genes. PORTUGUESE?!?! How extremely strange, since we'd never heard even the mildest hint from that direction! Yes, I have worked on collecting his family's genealogy (done mostly by others), and nothing remotely Portuguese ever came up! He also had some Spanish genes as well.
I have a great photograph (somewhere?) of him getting ready for prom, wearing a white shirt and black slacks. He's slim and looks the picture of a Spanish toreador! I always figured the dark hair and not-fair skin had come from somewhere, but of course many of the Celts originated from areas of Italy before settling modern-day Britain, so it only seemed a personal fantasy of sorts.
I am tickled about this to no end, and I'm not certain I'd ever have unearthed these Portuguese roots in the traditional genealogical fashion.
Michael looks much like his dark-haired mother, Elaine, and she is currently having her own test done. I expect to see those results in her chart as well...we'll see! Michael's brother, Jeff, was quite excited by the results. However, while his results may be nearly identical to Michael's, he could possibly have inherited a whole different batch of genes and have very few of the Portuguese markers. He doesn't have Michael's dark hair, but he does have darker eyes and a similar skin color, but he would simply have to test to be sure, unless Elaine reveals purebred Portuguese status!
Actually, I'm afraid I was negligent in studying the DNA information supplied with the test, and I was quite disappointed to not see Native American in my results. Michael recently pointed out that it seems that they are not including East Coast Native American results unless you tack on an inexpensive additional test.
I did read an anecdote once that a man who provided DNA analysis sent a woman results showing she had Native American roots, and she had an immediate heart attack upon hearing it! Given the conservative nature of many genealogy buffs, perhaps it's safer and better for business not to include the Native American roots as a matter of course.
Anyhow, Elaine should be receiving her results soon, and she did tack on the Native American test.
I'm inclined to get my paternal grandaddy tested, too, as his maternal grandmother, Laura Surepsi Hodge Pack, was supposed to be half-Native American. They say Cherokee, but that was a popular claim, as the Cherokee had the best reputation with settlers and were the richest. I doubt she is Cherokee, honestly, given the other local native tribes of the area (Catawba?) and the fact that she was illiterate and dirt-poor!
Oh, I had my Grandaddy's mitochondrial DNA tested a year or so ago, and it revealed Mediterranean origins for his incredibly distant strictly maternal ancestor. This makes sense, given Emmett Ard's Scottish roots, as the Celts came up from the Meditteranean area before settling Britain. I had been hoping that his grandmother Laura might have received her Native American blood from her strict maternal side, but her mother, Mary Hodge, is listed in the Census as white and single, so perhaps she had a Native American 'husband'? She has her maiden name as well, and it's all a bit hazy and unclear.
My granny, Virginia Mae Gamble Ard, has blue eyes and is quite fair, so I assume she has British roots as well. I am not THAT interested in tracing her exact ratios of European blood, but I've always been stumped on her family line. Denied rumors of adoption and unusual family birthing patterns are quite curious... her mother, Jessie, had no children for TEN years of marriage and then suddenly had TWO and only two girls. When I asked my granny's sister, Aunt Kat, about the rumor of adoption my mother had heard from a town local, she denied any knowledge of adoption, but she did say that it would explain why her childless Aunt Maude would frequently say it wasn't fair and that she should have one of the girls! Of course, that might simply be the teasing of the childless sister Maude to the fortunate, natural mother of two.
However, my Uncle Donald (my father's brother) looks incredibly like an 'unrelated' man from the same town whose birth father was a Salters. That older man was adopted and spoke quite freely with me about his personal history. The older man was at least ten years younger than my own granny, but those rumors of her own adoption, along with the adopted look-alike for my Uncle Donald, suggest to me that this man may very well be my own granny's brother or other close relative. He looks uncannily like my Uncle Donald, except that the man has big blue eyes, like my granny, whereas my Uncle Donald has dark brown eyes, like all of my grandfather Emmett Ard's children do.
What a mess! No birth records, and of course granny had to be born in 1921, so no Census records until 1930--so no clues as to her very early history. My granny does know much of her history and simply refuses to tell me. She wants to say nothing that is less than flattering, and I have unearthed some things that she would prefer not to talk about, though she prefers not to give any information in general. She will doubtlessly take much information about my heritage to her grave. Grr...she's the same about recipes! What's the point of that? What a secretive woman!
Once, when I asked her how she and grandaddy had met, she claimed to have forgotten. However, when my grandfather started telling me the story, she nodded her head along with him and corrected him several times. She even provided names where he forgot them. She hadn't forgotten, and I am baffled as to why she wouldn't share even an innocent story with me!
However, I suppose the more information that I have, the more I leads there are. I found that her father, Charles Gamble, was an illegitimate son of Amarintha Gamble and was sometimes claimed by her parents (his grandparents) as their son--or at least is recorded that way on the census records. I have no leads on who his father might be, except for the very vague possibility that Charles' middle name, Mouzon, could have been his father's surname. However, it could also be a friend or family name.
Oh, despite all that I said about Granny possibly being adopted, I actually do think that she looks quite like her father, to include a marked, characteristic chin dimple. My theory is that she might be related to him and be a family adoption--perhaps he was an uncle? Or maybe it wasn't an adoption at all...
Geesh, I NEED to add photos to this blog!
Some genealogists are interested in finding out how everyone's connected, and they want to know all their cousins and who they're distantly related to in this modern world. Frankly, though, I'm only really interested if they're my direct ancestor or quite closely related. I figure we're all connected eventually, somehow, so all that genealogy work is just 'semantics', in a sense.
I started researching my genealogy when I was 12. I'd heard about the 'melting pot' that was America, and I was curious to find out about my ancestors. I started by interviewing my grandparents and getting the basics about them and their parents and grandparents. I also interviewed a couple of other relatives at family reunions. When I went to college, I lived in downtown Charleston with Michael in a tiny studio apartment near the library. I spent hours and hours perusing the old South Carolina census microfilm there, and I did find a huge amount of information on certain ancestral lines. I also started borrowing old ancestral pictures and having them photocopied.
It was fascinating to make the connections while looking at neighbors on the microfilm, and much of it felt like detective work. The simplest, best, and quite common Census clue was found when the widowed mother-in-law had moved in with a family. I could often immediately go back a whole extra generation with that new surname and even more, up the paternal side, once I'd found her earlier family census records.
I've had various bouts with my genealogy hobby over the years. I have a great computer program called Family Tree Maker that helps keep it all organized and accessible. I also found quite a bit of information on-line. However, I've also followed some wrong leads on-line and received tons of information on incorrect family lines.
Between this confusion and the very real fact that we can't be 100% sure that even the purported parents are the real parents, I have lost much of my enthusiasm. I always had a goal of tracing my roots to their original countries of heritage, but so much of it seems guess-work that I'm a bit disheartened.
Anyhow, all this to say that I've been very excited about the advent of genetic DNA analysis looking for heritage patterns. I'd been told many times that I was Scotch-Irish by my family, and I was a bit disappointed to receive results declaring me primarily...Scotch-Irish. It's alright, I suppose, but I had been hoping for some more exotic results, or at least some strong French genes or SOMETHING!
For a Christmas 'surprise', I had Michael's analysis done. This time we hit the jackpot. Mr. Always Irishman found out that he is quite a bit Portuguese--about equal Portuguese to his northern Irish genes. PORTUGUESE?!?! How extremely strange, since we'd never heard even the mildest hint from that direction! Yes, I have worked on collecting his family's genealogy (done mostly by others), and nothing remotely Portuguese ever came up! He also had some Spanish genes as well.
I have a great photograph (somewhere?) of him getting ready for prom, wearing a white shirt and black slacks. He's slim and looks the picture of a Spanish toreador! I always figured the dark hair and not-fair skin had come from somewhere, but of course many of the Celts originated from areas of Italy before settling modern-day Britain, so it only seemed a personal fantasy of sorts.
I am tickled about this to no end, and I'm not certain I'd ever have unearthed these Portuguese roots in the traditional genealogical fashion.
Michael looks much like his dark-haired mother, Elaine, and she is currently having her own test done. I expect to see those results in her chart as well...we'll see! Michael's brother, Jeff, was quite excited by the results. However, while his results may be nearly identical to Michael's, he could possibly have inherited a whole different batch of genes and have very few of the Portuguese markers. He doesn't have Michael's dark hair, but he does have darker eyes and a similar skin color, but he would simply have to test to be sure, unless Elaine reveals purebred Portuguese status!
Actually, I'm afraid I was negligent in studying the DNA information supplied with the test, and I was quite disappointed to not see Native American in my results. Michael recently pointed out that it seems that they are not including East Coast Native American results unless you tack on an inexpensive additional test.
I did read an anecdote once that a man who provided DNA analysis sent a woman results showing she had Native American roots, and she had an immediate heart attack upon hearing it! Given the conservative nature of many genealogy buffs, perhaps it's safer and better for business not to include the Native American roots as a matter of course.
Anyhow, Elaine should be receiving her results soon, and she did tack on the Native American test.
I'm inclined to get my paternal grandaddy tested, too, as his maternal grandmother, Laura Surepsi Hodge Pack, was supposed to be half-Native American. They say Cherokee, but that was a popular claim, as the Cherokee had the best reputation with settlers and were the richest. I doubt she is Cherokee, honestly, given the other local native tribes of the area (Catawba?) and the fact that she was illiterate and dirt-poor!
Oh, I had my Grandaddy's mitochondrial DNA tested a year or so ago, and it revealed Mediterranean origins for his incredibly distant strictly maternal ancestor. This makes sense, given Emmett Ard's Scottish roots, as the Celts came up from the Meditteranean area before settling Britain. I had been hoping that his grandmother Laura might have received her Native American blood from her strict maternal side, but her mother, Mary Hodge, is listed in the Census as white and single, so perhaps she had a Native American 'husband'? She has her maiden name as well, and it's all a bit hazy and unclear.
My granny, Virginia Mae Gamble Ard, has blue eyes and is quite fair, so I assume she has British roots as well. I am not THAT interested in tracing her exact ratios of European blood, but I've always been stumped on her family line. Denied rumors of adoption and unusual family birthing patterns are quite curious... her mother, Jessie, had no children for TEN years of marriage and then suddenly had TWO and only two girls. When I asked my granny's sister, Aunt Kat, about the rumor of adoption my mother had heard from a town local, she denied any knowledge of adoption, but she did say that it would explain why her childless Aunt Maude would frequently say it wasn't fair and that she should have one of the girls! Of course, that might simply be the teasing of the childless sister Maude to the fortunate, natural mother of two.
However, my Uncle Donald (my father's brother) looks incredibly like an 'unrelated' man from the same town whose birth father was a Salters. That older man was adopted and spoke quite freely with me about his personal history. The older man was at least ten years younger than my own granny, but those rumors of her own adoption, along with the adopted look-alike for my Uncle Donald, suggest to me that this man may very well be my own granny's brother or other close relative. He looks uncannily like my Uncle Donald, except that the man has big blue eyes, like my granny, whereas my Uncle Donald has dark brown eyes, like all of my grandfather Emmett Ard's children do.
What a mess! No birth records, and of course granny had to be born in 1921, so no Census records until 1930--so no clues as to her very early history. My granny does know much of her history and simply refuses to tell me. She wants to say nothing that is less than flattering, and I have unearthed some things that she would prefer not to talk about, though she prefers not to give any information in general. She will doubtlessly take much information about my heritage to her grave. Grr...she's the same about recipes! What's the point of that? What a secretive woman!
Once, when I asked her how she and grandaddy had met, she claimed to have forgotten. However, when my grandfather started telling me the story, she nodded her head along with him and corrected him several times. She even provided names where he forgot them. She hadn't forgotten, and I am baffled as to why she wouldn't share even an innocent story with me!
However, I suppose the more information that I have, the more I leads there are. I found that her father, Charles Gamble, was an illegitimate son of Amarintha Gamble and was sometimes claimed by her parents (his grandparents) as their son--or at least is recorded that way on the census records. I have no leads on who his father might be, except for the very vague possibility that Charles' middle name, Mouzon, could have been his father's surname. However, it could also be a friend or family name.
Oh, despite all that I said about Granny possibly being adopted, I actually do think that she looks quite like her father, to include a marked, characteristic chin dimple. My theory is that she might be related to him and be a family adoption--perhaps he was an uncle? Or maybe it wasn't an adoption at all...
Geesh, I NEED to add photos to this blog!
Monday, January 11, 2010
Apollo's Party (more pics)
APOLLO the god of the sun (Alex)
Athena wearing her owl talisman (Fiona)
The Goddess Athena
Poseidon (Luke)! His Ocean Kingdom was honored at the party.
Zeus, the King of the Greek Gods! (Alex N-J)
Apollo's Party
Zeus (Alex N-J), Hephaestus (Ian), Poseidon (Lucas)
Hestia (Avery) and Hera (Elizabeth)
Hades (Nick), Athena (Fiona), Demeter (Kasi), and Persephone (Savannah)
Persephone (Savannah) and APOLLO (Alex)
Poseidon (Luke), Aphrodite (Elissa), and Hermes (Zachary)T
These are pictures from Alex's party. I'm not terribly focused on pictures, so I hate to say that I only pulled out the camera here at the very end of the party, and I'm missing at least one child (Ares/Kyle). Unfortunately, some of the kids are covering their great costumes with their coats... After the party, I did take a couple of shots of my kids, but I guess blogger limits the number of picture postings per day, so I'll have to post those next time, I suppose!
The kids seemed to have a great time. We greeted each god/goddess as he arrived with a talisman type of necklace that held his symbol. I have a nice shot of Athena's face that I'll post later, and you can see her owl necklace.
We started the party with their craft. We designed circular shields by buying large cardboard cake plates and hot-gun-gluing straps on the back for the arms. The kids sat at the table and used gold and silver paints as well as Washable markers to decorate their shields.
Meanwhile, the bar behind them was full of somewhat Greek-inspired foods. My sister Stephenie was an enormous help with the food preparation. Dolmas (stuffed grape leaves), Greek salad, hummus, fresh veggies, olives, fig newtons, crackers, garlic breads, chocolates...it was quite nice! We served mostly grape juice for drink.
Michael arrived with the pizzas (plain cheese and olive) after a while, and everyone demolished 4 pizzas completely, despite the spread!
Michael arrived with the pizzas (plain cheese and olive) after a while, and everyone demolished 4 pizzas completely, despite the spread!
About 45 minutes or so into the party, we began the quest that Michael had created, in which he hid clues for each god to discover in a sort of treasure hunt--most clues were hidden parchment, but Ares had to fight Kronos with a spear to get him to divulge the clue, and Artemis' champion had to shoot him with a foam arrow to get her clue. At the end, they discovered Apollo's sun pinata and blasted it open with their godly powers!
Afterwards, the kids had a fantastic time repeatedly killing Kronos as a mob (luckily Michael wore his taekwondo padding!) until it was time for cake and ice cream.
The guests very considerately donated money for the Ocean Conservancy instead of bringing presents, as asked, and Apollo raised $95 from his gifts for the organization.
Since Alex has so much already and had a big Christmas and family birthday presents, I think it was a good idea. Part of me balks that we spent so much more on the party than he raised, but of course we would have done that anyway, and $95 is a pretty decent contribution! I'm proud of his selflessness, though he had a great time being the birthday boy!
Oh, I did that instant costume thing again. I had been frantically preparing for the party all day, and I had already selected a normal outfit to wear just before my bath, but the thought occurred to me during my bath that I could wear my white skirt and a white simple top and pin a new wrap that Michael had bought me in a 'toga' style. So, ten minutes before the party was to begin, I pulled on this inspired ensemble, and while brushing my hair stuck a pearl/crystal headband in like a tiara (crown) of sorts and slipped on sandals. Anyhow, it wasn't as good as the kids' costumes, and any prior costume consideration for me had seemed like WAY too much to think about, but I slapped on my gaudiest 'jewels' and felt quite pleased with my instant costume!
Oh, I did that instant costume thing again. I had been frantically preparing for the party all day, and I had already selected a normal outfit to wear just before my bath, but the thought occurred to me during my bath that I could wear my white skirt and a white simple top and pin a new wrap that Michael had bought me in a 'toga' style. So, ten minutes before the party was to begin, I pulled on this inspired ensemble, and while brushing my hair stuck a pearl/crystal headband in like a tiara (crown) of sorts and slipped on sandals. Anyhow, it wasn't as good as the kids' costumes, and any prior costume consideration for me had seemed like WAY too much to think about, but I slapped on my gaudiest 'jewels' and felt quite pleased with my instant costume!
Michael's Kronos (god of Time) costume mostly consisted of a big cardboard clock (made of same shield supplies), with a big chain for it to hang around his neck. His clothes were black and padded, excluding the orange vest and some of the padding. 'Black for evil, orange for safety first' was his silly motto!
Anyhow, I think the kids were all introduced or reminded of elements of Greek mythology at the party. They heard about the symbols of the Greek gods, and Kronos threatened to consume violators of the quest rules (as Kronos ate his own god children in mythology). It was a fun and educational theme and the kids seemed engaged to varying degrees.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
A Recess Horse
Here's one I haven't heard before...
Fiona has hired herself a recess horse! For $4, a tall boy in her class is dedicating his recess time for the rest of the school year to giving her piggyback rides all over the playground! She gives him 5-minute breaks and tells him to meet her in a few minutes to transport her to her next location!
I am nearly hysterical with laughter over this! How awesome!
Fiona has hired herself a recess horse! For $4, a tall boy in her class is dedicating his recess time for the rest of the school year to giving her piggyback rides all over the playground! She gives him 5-minute breaks and tells him to meet her in a few minutes to transport her to her next location!
I am nearly hysterical with laughter over this! How awesome!
Friday, January 8, 2010
Unplanned Causes
It's funny how, when we're chatting about daily stuff, we can leave out oh-so-much more important things. Sometimes, as with the blog, we don't want to focus on them, but then it seems a bit incomplete. So, in the interest of feeling more complete and giving you the scoop on a couple of big issues to me, I thought I'd write an entry on my unplanned 'Causes' at the kids' school.
I used to be a really supportive parent. I'd sometimes volunteer at school, and I'd bring classroom presents and Christmas presents for teachers and such. I was nice, which is how I'd prefer to be perceived! Don't get me wrong--I'm still grateful for all the fantastic opportunities my kids get and I still sometimes answer the classroom 'wish list' with bundles, it's just that I haven't been as helpful in that way or focused on the positive ever since...ahem, well, the PTA invited me to be VP. Why the ahem? Well, because it ended terribly, when I resigned in great frustration.
Okay, here's the dirt... In addition to being PTA VP, I had volunteered for the role of chair of the Health & Wellness Committee at Charles Ellis Montessori. In this position of responsibility, I began to address an issue of great concern to me...that the children did not have soap, warm water, or toilet paper in the restrooms. This concern seems completely obvious and unacceptable to me, and I expected a simple fix. When I was informed by the principal that funding was an issue, I addressed the PTA with requests for funding for setting up these basic needs--toilet paper dispensers, instant water heaters, hand air dryers and such. The PTA, under the influence of the reigning president at the time, unanimously voted against this funding and suggested I host an INDEPENDENT fund-raiser! Meanwhile, they happily shelled out many thousands of dollars for arbitrary little entertainment events and festivals for the kids! I was even questioned about the real need for these things...would it really make a difference? Some parents who agreed with me in private conversation joined in with the vote against assisting funding and followed up by encouraging me to 'do something about it'. Hence, I resigned.
The PTA, I have decided, is full of bright, cheery, optimistic cheerleaders who make the school a more fun place. I do sometimes wish I had more of that Pollyanna attitude. Fun-loving, uncritical, etc... I felt completely burned and amazed that they prioritized basic needs so little. How can we flippantly spend thousands on an 'opera' when we don't have soap and warm water? I did communicate this to the PTA in my resignation letter, which did upset many well-meaning but short-sighted PTA mothers.
Anyhow, I did persist, and after many calls and annoying and plaguing numerous folks, Ellis finally put toilet paper and soap in the restrooms. There's often just one soap dispenser, sometimes too high for the little ones to reach, and the toilet paper is generally not mounted on a secure dispenser, and there's NO hot water, but it's a lot better than before. In the past, children had to carry a basket from the classroom with supplies in it, and you can logically see how a child could not possibly wash her hands between the bathroom stall and the sink, before putting her hands back on the basket handles. Not only GI illnesses, but blood-borne pathogens (from the older girls) become a greater risk with this practice. Anyhow, it took me about a year to get the tp in the restrooms, and I had numerous anxiety bouts in the process. I am simply NOT cut out to be an activist, but nobody else seemed to care and it seemed so critical!
Whew...that was an AWFUL experience, but I am glad I persisted, though I alienated many folks in the process. I do sort of regret that had to be the case, but I theoretically am glad to sacrifice my own popularity for the improved health and well-being of hundreds of kids.
It's funny how quickly you do forget, though. I was acutely aware for a time of the unfriendliness of several PTA mothers, but I recall a day when I came home from visiting the school and mentioned with confusion to Michael about the 'chilliness' that one mother had towards me. I had COMPLETELY forgotten about the whole restroom debaucle in the moment! Which means that most mothers had let go of it and I was thus not continually reminded of it, though the restroom improvements remained! Yay! In fact, that whole thing was last school year, and THIS school year saw the free-of-me PTA supplying hand sanitizer and hand sanitizer dispensers at various points throughout the school in response to the H1N1 panic, and I like to think that I did raise a few of their consciences and awarenesses about the hygiene issue, which helped to prompt this action.
Okay, so that was last year's cause... This year saw me take on a completely different one! The school district switched school bus service for the current school year, and my children were arriving home ridiculously late. I did not take any action, except to complain to the office, until one day in September, after Fiona's violin class--a full hour after school had let out--the children commented that they bet their bus line was still waiting to be picked up. I was dismayed and went to see, and I was appalled to see three bus lines STILL waiting for their buses! These poor kids were sitting on the cold, hard cafeteria floor in lines on a DAILY basis for over an hour! In fact, the after-school childcare program was in the same room, so THOSE children got snacks and crafts and such RIGHT in front of them, while the bus children were being held in a pseudo-detention DAILY!
After receiving no response from the bus service, the board members, and such, I contacted WSAV, the local news channel, and, thankfully, I did receive a response. I was interviewed, and finally some response was initiated. Unfortunately, the situation hasn't greatly improved, and I have continued to bother and provoke folks. I'm sure I'm not alone in it, but there was this week a sudden board meeting about the transportation issue privy to the media, which I believe my letters and Randi from WSAV may have prompted. It sounds as though they will be choosing a different bus company for 2010-11 school year, and my children are suddenly arriving home a half-hour earlier--so much better, but still about an hour and a half after school is dismissed. Anyhow, that's my 'Cause' for this year.
I hate to be so critical and take things on like that. It's just so awful to see these poor children be trodden on. They're generally so passive and accepting, and the teachers have their hands tied, since their jobs are on the line. What does get me is that the quick answer I seem to get about things is special treatment for MY kids. Special restroom privileges (oh, I haven't even MENTIONED the restroom restrictions I contested in the PRIOR year, before even bringing up the hygiene issue!) and I'm certain that it's quite likely a different bus route is having to wait that extra half-hour in deference to my fussing, which was NOT my intent. I suppose it's easier for disinterested administrators to grant exceptions than to change whole policies, though...the squeaky wheel does get the grease!
Michael is supportive, thank goodness. I pat my own back for addressing these things, but, generally, being an activist is a THANKLESS task. How many kids are saying 'thank you' or feeling grateful for my efforts? How many angry vibes towards me am I generating? And yes, I am ultra-sensitive and can't stand angry vibes...
I can count 4 (one in grad school) specific Causes that I have independently taken on, and I have caused myself extreme anxiety over them all, though, honestly, I'd have to say that the anxiety is less now, though I may have Randi with WSAV to thank for that. Finally, an ally in defending the 'oppressed' :)! I'm sort of surprised that it's about such obvious things, and I suppose I'm motivated because my kids are affected directly. I do care very much about the environment and animal welfare, but those things are removed from my daily reality. If there were a meat-processing plant within the school, perhaps I would be motivated to worry more about the most basic animal welfare issues and such...
Speaking of that, I do believe that's why such horrors continue. Those plants are out of sight, out of mind. Same, really, for environmental problems. That's why they continue, and I'm apparently nearly as guilty about my inactivism as anyone else, as I clearly respond to what's in my face as opposed to seeking out those issues. We can only take on so much, though, and, frankly, I do prefer pleasant life to all that anxiety!
We should all do what we can, though, and some of you have more spunk and less sensitivity and can probably be more effective about more issues than I am! That said, it's encouraging to see some responses in the right direction, and I believe I'm inspired to keep trying. That, so far, seems to be the key. Of my 4 Causes, only the first one failed dismally, and I truly believe it's because I gave up rather quickly. In fact, the president of my school told me directly that he couldn't justify changing the policies of other administrators unless, basically, I held a protest. I couldn't deal with it and just gave up, but perhaps I would follow through these days. Live and learn to PERSIST. Ugh and ugh and ugh, but it's the only way to be effective, apparently. "Just keep trying" seems to be the key to achieving nearly anything, and, if it's worth it, there's no point in putting in half the effort. Commit and Try and Continue with everything of importance to us, so long as we still think the end goal is worth the future effort (as what's done is done).
I used to be a really supportive parent. I'd sometimes volunteer at school, and I'd bring classroom presents and Christmas presents for teachers and such. I was nice, which is how I'd prefer to be perceived! Don't get me wrong--I'm still grateful for all the fantastic opportunities my kids get and I still sometimes answer the classroom 'wish list' with bundles, it's just that I haven't been as helpful in that way or focused on the positive ever since...ahem, well, the PTA invited me to be VP. Why the ahem? Well, because it ended terribly, when I resigned in great frustration.
Okay, here's the dirt... In addition to being PTA VP, I had volunteered for the role of chair of the Health & Wellness Committee at Charles Ellis Montessori. In this position of responsibility, I began to address an issue of great concern to me...that the children did not have soap, warm water, or toilet paper in the restrooms. This concern seems completely obvious and unacceptable to me, and I expected a simple fix. When I was informed by the principal that funding was an issue, I addressed the PTA with requests for funding for setting up these basic needs--toilet paper dispensers, instant water heaters, hand air dryers and such. The PTA, under the influence of the reigning president at the time, unanimously voted against this funding and suggested I host an INDEPENDENT fund-raiser! Meanwhile, they happily shelled out many thousands of dollars for arbitrary little entertainment events and festivals for the kids! I was even questioned about the real need for these things...would it really make a difference? Some parents who agreed with me in private conversation joined in with the vote against assisting funding and followed up by encouraging me to 'do something about it'. Hence, I resigned.
The PTA, I have decided, is full of bright, cheery, optimistic cheerleaders who make the school a more fun place. I do sometimes wish I had more of that Pollyanna attitude. Fun-loving, uncritical, etc... I felt completely burned and amazed that they prioritized basic needs so little. How can we flippantly spend thousands on an 'opera' when we don't have soap and warm water? I did communicate this to the PTA in my resignation letter, which did upset many well-meaning but short-sighted PTA mothers.
Anyhow, I did persist, and after many calls and annoying and plaguing numerous folks, Ellis finally put toilet paper and soap in the restrooms. There's often just one soap dispenser, sometimes too high for the little ones to reach, and the toilet paper is generally not mounted on a secure dispenser, and there's NO hot water, but it's a lot better than before. In the past, children had to carry a basket from the classroom with supplies in it, and you can logically see how a child could not possibly wash her hands between the bathroom stall and the sink, before putting her hands back on the basket handles. Not only GI illnesses, but blood-borne pathogens (from the older girls) become a greater risk with this practice. Anyhow, it took me about a year to get the tp in the restrooms, and I had numerous anxiety bouts in the process. I am simply NOT cut out to be an activist, but nobody else seemed to care and it seemed so critical!
Whew...that was an AWFUL experience, but I am glad I persisted, though I alienated many folks in the process. I do sort of regret that had to be the case, but I theoretically am glad to sacrifice my own popularity for the improved health and well-being of hundreds of kids.
It's funny how quickly you do forget, though. I was acutely aware for a time of the unfriendliness of several PTA mothers, but I recall a day when I came home from visiting the school and mentioned with confusion to Michael about the 'chilliness' that one mother had towards me. I had COMPLETELY forgotten about the whole restroom debaucle in the moment! Which means that most mothers had let go of it and I was thus not continually reminded of it, though the restroom improvements remained! Yay! In fact, that whole thing was last school year, and THIS school year saw the free-of-me PTA supplying hand sanitizer and hand sanitizer dispensers at various points throughout the school in response to the H1N1 panic, and I like to think that I did raise a few of their consciences and awarenesses about the hygiene issue, which helped to prompt this action.
Okay, so that was last year's cause... This year saw me take on a completely different one! The school district switched school bus service for the current school year, and my children were arriving home ridiculously late. I did not take any action, except to complain to the office, until one day in September, after Fiona's violin class--a full hour after school had let out--the children commented that they bet their bus line was still waiting to be picked up. I was dismayed and went to see, and I was appalled to see three bus lines STILL waiting for their buses! These poor kids were sitting on the cold, hard cafeteria floor in lines on a DAILY basis for over an hour! In fact, the after-school childcare program was in the same room, so THOSE children got snacks and crafts and such RIGHT in front of them, while the bus children were being held in a pseudo-detention DAILY!
After receiving no response from the bus service, the board members, and such, I contacted WSAV, the local news channel, and, thankfully, I did receive a response. I was interviewed, and finally some response was initiated. Unfortunately, the situation hasn't greatly improved, and I have continued to bother and provoke folks. I'm sure I'm not alone in it, but there was this week a sudden board meeting about the transportation issue privy to the media, which I believe my letters and Randi from WSAV may have prompted. It sounds as though they will be choosing a different bus company for 2010-11 school year, and my children are suddenly arriving home a half-hour earlier--so much better, but still about an hour and a half after school is dismissed. Anyhow, that's my 'Cause' for this year.
I hate to be so critical and take things on like that. It's just so awful to see these poor children be trodden on. They're generally so passive and accepting, and the teachers have their hands tied, since their jobs are on the line. What does get me is that the quick answer I seem to get about things is special treatment for MY kids. Special restroom privileges (oh, I haven't even MENTIONED the restroom restrictions I contested in the PRIOR year, before even bringing up the hygiene issue!) and I'm certain that it's quite likely a different bus route is having to wait that extra half-hour in deference to my fussing, which was NOT my intent. I suppose it's easier for disinterested administrators to grant exceptions than to change whole policies, though...the squeaky wheel does get the grease!
Michael is supportive, thank goodness. I pat my own back for addressing these things, but, generally, being an activist is a THANKLESS task. How many kids are saying 'thank you' or feeling grateful for my efforts? How many angry vibes towards me am I generating? And yes, I am ultra-sensitive and can't stand angry vibes...
I can count 4 (one in grad school) specific Causes that I have independently taken on, and I have caused myself extreme anxiety over them all, though, honestly, I'd have to say that the anxiety is less now, though I may have Randi with WSAV to thank for that. Finally, an ally in defending the 'oppressed' :)! I'm sort of surprised that it's about such obvious things, and I suppose I'm motivated because my kids are affected directly. I do care very much about the environment and animal welfare, but those things are removed from my daily reality. If there were a meat-processing plant within the school, perhaps I would be motivated to worry more about the most basic animal welfare issues and such...
Speaking of that, I do believe that's why such horrors continue. Those plants are out of sight, out of mind. Same, really, for environmental problems. That's why they continue, and I'm apparently nearly as guilty about my inactivism as anyone else, as I clearly respond to what's in my face as opposed to seeking out those issues. We can only take on so much, though, and, frankly, I do prefer pleasant life to all that anxiety!
We should all do what we can, though, and some of you have more spunk and less sensitivity and can probably be more effective about more issues than I am! That said, it's encouraging to see some responses in the right direction, and I believe I'm inspired to keep trying. That, so far, seems to be the key. Of my 4 Causes, only the first one failed dismally, and I truly believe it's because I gave up rather quickly. In fact, the president of my school told me directly that he couldn't justify changing the policies of other administrators unless, basically, I held a protest. I couldn't deal with it and just gave up, but perhaps I would follow through these days. Live and learn to PERSIST. Ugh and ugh and ugh, but it's the only way to be effective, apparently. "Just keep trying" seems to be the key to achieving nearly anything, and, if it's worth it, there's no point in putting in half the effort. Commit and Try and Continue with everything of importance to us, so long as we still think the end goal is worth the future effort (as what's done is done).
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Isn't this picture fabulous?!!!! Note those good-looking black belts! I waited for them both to have black belts before getting the professional pictures made, and I'm completely tickled over how they turned out. They were framed and matted Christmas presents for the family, of course! They actually included a CD disk with the pictures and a permission letter for use! These folks know how to photograph martial arts, don't they? All pictures were taken separately and then collated for this one.
The Birthday Invitations
So this is basically what we printed on parchment paper for Alex's invitations. Each child was assigned a god or Titan role, and we made a few suggestions for their outfits. The biker gear for Ares is in deference to Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series, in which Ares is a total scary biker dude!
Alex actually did request the Ocean Conservancy focus and initially wanted to charge admission and make it a serious fund-raiser! He takes his personal contributions very seriously!
Isn't that a cool picture effect? It's from my sister's phone...I think it's called embossing. Anyhow, I thought it looked rather like a stone/marble statue (on which the Roman gods were frequently depicted).
Michael gets frustrated at how I mix eras and am continually historically inaccurate! The Greeks didn't wear togas...the statues were marble (white), not stone...etc. Of course, he feels that way about most movies and historical shows, too... I admire that he knows so much, but sometimes I'm certain it detracts from his enjoyment. It would mine, too, if I continually identified inaccuracies in an otherwise well-done film! Anyway, he's let go of historical fact and is running with my mish-mash party ideas. He's already planning a 'Quest' sort of Treasure Hunt for the kids. It should be fun!
New Years 2010 and Alex's upcoming event
Whew...still whirlwind holiday stuff, as we run straight from Christmas to New Year's to Alex's birthday!
With Michael's parents in tow, we all visited my folks in SC for New Year's and came back on Sunday. My mother, who is typically quite reserved and, if I might say so, often a bit spartan, actually adores fireworks. I personally would not bother, but I have to admit that the fireworks activities at New Year's were quite nice. My frugal mother shelled out $150 for those fireworks and thought she'd scored a deal! Perhaps she did...I've no clue what they normally cost! Anyhow, I think it was worth it simply to see her looking so pleased and everyone laughing and enjoying them.
We had a pleasant trip with my family and then came home Sunday evening. Monday was Alex's birthday, and I worked all day on preparing for the nice birthday dinner with Michael's family here at our house. Presents, cake, and family would be enough for his 11th birthday, of course, but now we're preparing for his big birthday party this coming Sunday!
Alex is having a Greek God-themed party. He has always identified with Apollo, god of the sun and music, and Fiona with Athena, goddess of wisdom and strategic planning. Apollo is trimmed in gold, to represent the sun, and Athena wears gray (which we have in her sash, with silver trim accents). After trimming their togas and getting excited about the gold and silver brother-sister combination, Michael pointed out that they are like Josh and Sophie in The Alchemist about Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott. The brother and sister have special golden and silver auras, respectively. Of course I get excited about the analogies!
Tuesday was dedicated to the somewhat belated invitations, of which I am so proud! They were a combined labor by Michael and me, and we printed them on parchment-style paper, tied with gold rope or ribbon (once the rope had run out!).
Yesterday was dedicated to the kids' costumes, and I have achieved a new level of personal craftiness (hmm, should that be craftliness?). I'll have to post pics of my cuties in their gold and silver-trimmed togas on Sunday! Today and tomorrow are supposed to be cleaning days (since I'm foolishly having the party here at our house), so of course I'm on the computer instead of cleaning! Icky, ucky cleaning... Fiona will sit down and cry at times when I tell her to clean her room, and, frankly, I'm the same way!
Anyhow, I'm in the home stretch...after Alex's birthday party I can relax! A bit, anyhow, though our January weekends are booked!
With Michael's parents in tow, we all visited my folks in SC for New Year's and came back on Sunday. My mother, who is typically quite reserved and, if I might say so, often a bit spartan, actually adores fireworks. I personally would not bother, but I have to admit that the fireworks activities at New Year's were quite nice. My frugal mother shelled out $150 for those fireworks and thought she'd scored a deal! Perhaps she did...I've no clue what they normally cost! Anyhow, I think it was worth it simply to see her looking so pleased and everyone laughing and enjoying them.
We had a pleasant trip with my family and then came home Sunday evening. Monday was Alex's birthday, and I worked all day on preparing for the nice birthday dinner with Michael's family here at our house. Presents, cake, and family would be enough for his 11th birthday, of course, but now we're preparing for his big birthday party this coming Sunday!
Alex is having a Greek God-themed party. He has always identified with Apollo, god of the sun and music, and Fiona with Athena, goddess of wisdom and strategic planning. Apollo is trimmed in gold, to represent the sun, and Athena wears gray (which we have in her sash, with silver trim accents). After trimming their togas and getting excited about the gold and silver brother-sister combination, Michael pointed out that they are like Josh and Sophie in The Alchemist about Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott. The brother and sister have special golden and silver auras, respectively. Of course I get excited about the analogies!
Tuesday was dedicated to the somewhat belated invitations, of which I am so proud! They were a combined labor by Michael and me, and we printed them on parchment-style paper, tied with gold rope or ribbon (once the rope had run out!).
Yesterday was dedicated to the kids' costumes, and I have achieved a new level of personal craftiness (hmm, should that be craftliness?). I'll have to post pics of my cuties in their gold and silver-trimmed togas on Sunday! Today and tomorrow are supposed to be cleaning days (since I'm foolishly having the party here at our house), so of course I'm on the computer instead of cleaning! Icky, ucky cleaning... Fiona will sit down and cry at times when I tell her to clean her room, and, frankly, I'm the same way!
Anyhow, I'm in the home stretch...after Alex's birthday party I can relax! A bit, anyhow, though our January weekends are booked!
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