Prometheus Comes to Polk Street

Now I know you're not supposed to tell where you live online, but there's a lot of miles of "Polk Street" in the town where I live and the alliteration was just too nice to pass up.

Today it's the coldest day I can remember in August -- anywhere I've ever been in August. So we girls decided to try to turn on some heat. For heat we have a gas fireplace/stove. It's really neat looking but not exactly the most intuitive appliance. We plugged it in. Nothing. We adjusted the thermostat on the wall. Nothing. Then I noticed the pipe coming from the wall and I opened the valve for the gas to actually enter the stove. And we had to read the directions about 1o times -- after we found them -- before we were able to make the pilot spark. But now it works and we understand how; and Phil (the Landlord) came down and explained further.

yay! we have fire!

I tried to make Jiffy Pop on the top of the stove, but after it sat there for about an hour and didn't even start to sizzle, I gave up. I'll make it on the real stove. Like normal people.

The Great Irony of "the blog"

The whole point is to keep people up to date with one's life. But one's life frequently is what gets in the way of actually writing anything. For instance, mine.

Recently I've moved -- still can't find the camera or I'd post pictures of my gigantic bathroom (with a tiny shower) and my huge closet (but that's a mess right now, I don't think I'd put a picture even if I did know where the camera was). And I have new housemates. Lydia and Laura. They are both still students at NSA, one freshman and one sophomore.

But I'm rejoining the acadmic world this year also. I've applied for, been offered, and accepted a job teaching a 10th grade American Lit class at Logos School. It's only part time teaching, but I think that'll be more than enough. I'm beginning to think I'm not nearly scared enough. From everything I've heard, I will more than have my hands full with my 26 kids. Even though it's only one class; lit is one of the more "teacher homework" kinds of classes. I have to actually read along with them! But at the same time, I think it'll be really fun to get paid to read "Huckleberry Finn" and "The Old Man and the Sea" and "The Last of the Mohicans." But before we get to that, we are doing a few weeks on the Puritans and their writings. I don't know what we will study, but it's from Leland Ryken's "Worldy Saints" which is apparently great. And I will have the kids give presentations. So I don't have to be the expert in each chapter.

I was given two giant boxes full of books, reference works, stories on tape, documentaries, art books, and folders and binders full of possible lesson plans. I'd better get back to reading all that!

'Til The Next Time I Have Time,
AJ

Grown Up? or Getting Old?

• Today I went to a place to see about a job (Potting Shed Creations, Ltd. -- kinda like if you locked Martha Stewart in a garden and told her to throw a babyshower). I wanted to turn in my resume, cover letter and application and get a feel for what the place is like. I have heard from a current boss of mine that they are growing like gang busters. The ladies all seemed nice and it looked like it would be a desk job but no cubicles! yay! anyhoo, the first person I met was not the person I needed to see. She walked me over to Cindy (the HR person) and said, "This woman would like to see you about a job." Now, I've been called, "young lady," "lady," "kid," "girl," and even occasionally "person" or "gal" but I've yet to be called "woman." Now I have.
• I also now own a "spanking stick." This is something that I thought would be longer in coming but I am pleased to lend my utensils to the task of shaping the small people in my life. I think that's kind of what they mean when they ask the congregation if you promise to aid the parents in this task [nurture and admonision of the Lord].
• This one's for Sharon... I was having a frappe or something about a week ago and I also was dressed up for the Logos Teacher Training where I was working. On the way home I was pleased to notice that there was lipstick on my straw!

Could This Happen In Moscow?

I've riden the Metro twice ever in my life, I should know.

DC Metro Experiment

I didn't read the whole thing, but Joshua Bell, who normally commands $100 a seat, playing a priceless ($3 million) Stradivarius violin, went basically unnoticed for most of an hour in a subway lobby. Interesting. I don't know what it means, but it's intersting.

look what else my phone can do...

Forget about talking. It's totally my new favorite toy. But the flowers are very non-tech-y and that balances the extreme nerdiness of this photo and the process of getting it on line. I have three blooms and almost three more as of tonight. I'll wait till the flower box is really going strong and then take another shot.

Future IKEA lovers of America...Unite!

I Y my Poang chair and Flannery does too.

My new favorite movie

I haven't seen it yet, but I'm hoping.

http://licensetowedthemovie.warnerbros.com/

Step Two

If the drawing was step one, here's how far I got today. I'm going to a dinner for the 4th, but I think I'll get a second coat of stain on tonight.

What Will This Become?

What a fun project for the 4th of July! I have the day off from all my jobs and I am very excited to make this BBQ table. It'll be two feet square and stained green. I'm also pleased because this photo came from my phone. Didn't know I could do that until recently. Should have been doing it that way for years! Don't worry, I'll be showing off the result on Wednesday.

Why I Want XM Radio...

• Jonathan Katz "Three Hobbies"
• Chonda Pierce "Church"
• Maryellen Hooper "Rewire the Outlets"
• Smothers Brothers "Cabbage"

The Laugh USA channel. I was working late in the trailer punching tens of thousands of holes and I was listening and enjoying good clean stand up comedy. There's about a million other fun things to listen to on XM. Selling subscriptions to satellite radio was the one part about selling cars I totally, 100%, believed in. Too bad I never sold a car that was able to play it... But someday, I'm going to buy a car with it. Maybe a truck... hmmm... Whenever that money starts rolling in, I'll know how to spend it!