What we will do to take an exam...

I have an online class, there is no participation, do the work and take a non-cumulative exam every 4-5 weeks. Since it is on the portrayal of religion in film...I had to watch most the 4 movies for the exam last week. No problem. I'd studied the books and watched all but 1 move by Wednesday. I knew Thursday I'd have time to watch the final film. I finally got around to it about 9pm. Only to discover the version online has Chinese subtitles on a Hindi film - and a picture is not worth a 1000 words if they're in a foreign tongue. If I'd know what I know know about the contents of the exam I would not have even bothered watching it, but working under the false assumption that questions about the movie (since it is the subject of the class) would actually be on the exam I felt compelled to watch it. After much searching I found it available on iTunes to rent - problem solved. Or not, 1st download - corrupted, there were no pictures only sound and a purple screen. 2nd download - same. By 3am I gave up. Of course I became so stressed I woke up Friday morning absolutely ill. Though this did thankfully give me a chance to sleep (much needed) and check multiple bookstores in the area. Copy found, purchased, and watched.

After all the effort I was disappointed NOT to have questions about it on the exam. Though watching it was the best part of my week.

Meanwhile my new laptop arrived on Thursday and besides taking a quick peek at my parent's house Thursday I didn't open the box again until Saturday night. So instead of getting ready for enrichment  Tuesday and doing my homework I was working on my lovely project for J's shower!

Since J can't come to California for a shower, we are going to send a little bit of shower to everyone. I limited her to under 30, because I am after all human, but it has been so much fun, and exhausting. Impossible without the use of my mother's tools I spent hours creating these little friends - each of which arrives in its own little tree.

Once Upon a Mattress

My brother did some singing and even a very little dancing. Enjoy J - wish you could have been there. G was SOOOO funny, she spent most of the show trying to hide from Mr. F.






And apologies for the terrible sound quality on my camera :)

J talks

I took this video on my phone when the J's were visiting, which is why the quality is so bad. But since I am cleaning up my computer files I figured I would put it up here.

A Psalm of Life

-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but and empty dream! --
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.

Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
but to act, that each tomorrow
Finds us farther than today.

Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And out hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.

In the world's broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!

Trust no Future, howe're pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act, -act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o'rehead!

Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints in the sands of time.

Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.

Let us then be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.

Ah, nothing like a favorite poem to bring perspective on a rainy day