I stayed up way too late finishing an adaption of a free Hallmark desktop to one for the family - I add important family dates, change the calendar, move things around and personalize the way I would like. I usually do this because I have a widescreen monitor and the designs are much too short to cover the whole area. The one on the left is the one I did for Sean to use on his desk top. I also did one with a floral bouquet for my own desktop. Maybe the next one will be for Dean or another member of the family :)
I had a real surprise visit this morning, Walter came by to spend some time with me, since they weren't working in the field today. We went through two pots of coffee and had some quite interesting conversations regarding Matriarchal vs. Patriarchal societies. The development of the Roman empire, the expansion of the population center outwards. Early Native American trading systems and their agricultural abilities. We even went into the family genealogy, which he hardly ever wants to discuss. But this time it was more of a putting it into a historical perspective. Then there were many, many, more topics. A real "intellectual" event.
While Walt was here I enlisted him as a tripod for the binoculars and captured a squirrel sitting in the feeder. He was really enthusiasic about getting at the food. (The squirrel not Walter.) I had several others but they blurred - it isn't easy to take photos through a binocular lens without it actually being firmly attached to the camera. Plus my makeshift tripod, envision Walter here, wasn't as still as I tried to make him be. He did a great job even though it was truly tough stuff.Sean has been spending the time attacking his opponents in the online game he is playing. I believe that he has achieved a level 57 on Asheron's Call in just two days. So he has been intently working on the characters progress. It has been diligent progress. He's shooting for level 75 today and trying to make it to level 100 before school starts.
VDOT came through the neighborhood inspecting the "slurry job" on our streets and they said that the company that did the job will be back to correct the mess. Amen! They said that they will be back out soon - so that most likely means after this spell of rain. I'm not complaining, we really, really need all of it that we can get for now. It has been so dry here.
Mom passed along to me that Aunt Barbara Jean's neighbor passed away. They hadn't seen her in a few days and since she lives alone. They checked with her lawn guy and after "peeping" into the house they gave the police a call. Turns out that the woman had passed away. When the police questioned them about it, they said they had just noticed that she hadn't left the house in several days and that her newspapers were piling up on the porch. At least they were being good neighbors and watching out for one another. Who knows how long she would have been in there if they hadn't tried to check on her?
We all headed out this evening to pay the dreaded school fees. Yuck! On the bright side he did get a copy of his schedule for the coming year. The school system is starting to use a modified block scheduling system for the middle school. Basically he will attend the "core classes" of Math, English & Science/Social Studies every day, but alternate on an odd even basis his P.E. class and elective. Another new wrinkle in the schedule Science/Social Studies will be completed in one semester. So if they are assigned Science in the first semester then the second semester will be social studies. Sean is taking Speech & Drama as his first semester elective and Work/Family Studies for second semester. It will be a cool year.
Newsletter Gleanings
The early warning signs that you are suffering from burnout:
- chronic fatigue - exhaustion, tiredness, a sense of being physically run down
- anger at those making demands
- self-criticism for putting up with the demands
- cynicism, negativity, and irritability
- a sense of being besieged
- exploding easily at seemingly inconsequential things
- frequent headaches and gastrointestinal disturbances
- weight loss or gain
- sleeplessness and depression
- shortness of breath
- suspiciousness
- feelings of helplessness
- increased degree of risk taking
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