Castle in the Clouds

It's been a busy weekend! Friday Although the kids had Good Friday off from school, Ken and I had to work.  After getting out at the normal quitting time, we rushed home to pick up the hoodlums so we could meet up the hubby's family.  Of course, before we could do that, we had to stop at the grocery store to pick up the side dishes we had promised to contribute to the night's meal.  You didn't expect me to cook, did you?   Decorating Easter eggs was the first thing on the agenda.  Unlike the previous years, this was the first time we had only one kid sitting at the table.  Gage, being the youngest of the four grandsons, was the only one who showed any inclination to get his hands dirty.  Good thing we only had one dozen to color!    Ronnie, Gage, and Grandma Gage  The rest of the night was spent either playing on whatever electronic device happened to be handy, watching television, or playing frustration.   I don'...

I think I've mentioned here before that I realized shortly after I wrote chapter one of book #2 that I hadn't really stopped to consider a few important factors.  In the opening of this book I have our new heroine meeting the old cast at the bookstore - not that she realizes they're a cohesive group at that particular moment.  She only knows that she's interviewing for a teacher-int-the-house position with the children's mother.  This is all good and well.  It's still what I want.  It introduces my heroine and situates her nicely in the middle of the old cast.  It also sets up her on-going role with the group. What I didn't stop to consider was the mother.  If you've read Fallen Angel , you will remember that in book #1 Charity was kidnapped by werewolves, her husband was murdered by a demon, and her daughters were rescued by angels.  If you haven't read the book, don't think I've ruined the story for you because Charity was a secondary c...

Once every semester my office hosts a "Cool Toys" show-n-tell event.  The purpose of this one-hour gathering is to highlight technology that could be adapted for classroom use.  While our in-house instructional designers are always listed on the agenda as presenters, we also open the floor up to faculty and staff.  Earlier this week we held our winter event.  I'm so glad I attended because I think I may have discovered something that could be useful in helping my child(ren) in the K-12 classroom.  Although, someday they'll go off to college, right?  This tool could be hugely beneficial then, too.  Before I get into the technology in question, there are a few things I need to consider.  Would my boy(s) be able to keep track of it and not lose it?  This item isn't cheap.  Amazon has it listed for $156.  Would the other kids be able to resist the urge to mess with it?   Would the teachers allow it to be used in their ...

Continuing yesterday's discussion about books I intend to read this year, I thought I'd take a look at my Kindle library and select a few promising titles.  I will admit most of these decisions will be based on visual appeal and not necessarily on the merit of the book's premise.  I often buy Kindle freebies in a carefree frenzy of button clicking.  However, there are some notable exceptions to this buying methodology.  Every now and again, I actually spend money on authors I know and appreciate, so some of these titles are 100% intentional and not mere happy accidents. In no particular order....   I picked this one up for free.  Not to worry, dear author, I have purchased the next two books in the series because my friends have raved about this book.  I hope it doesn't disappoint!   This author is well known to me.  I've read many of his Xanth novels.  My favorite of his collection, though, has nothing to do with that magic...

This post was inspired by Kelley at Another Novel Read .  There she's discussing the top ten books she just had to buy, but hasn't yet read.  As my to-be-read (TBR) pile is just a tad bit out of control - okay, insanely out of control - I thought I could share with you the top ten books that I'm most eager to read this year during my Goodreads 100 book challenge .  Because some of them have been on my TBR shelves for so long, I can't remember if I purchased them, found them somewhere, or had them given to me by a friend or relative. This list of ten is available to me in either paperback or hardcover form.  I am not including Kindle e-books in the list.  Maybe I'll list those in another post.   (Hey, look at that, an idea for tomorrow!) So, in no particular order, here are the books that have been sitting on my shelf, staring me in the face, and mocking my inability to get them read already.    I remember picking this one up at a...

Today I bring you a hodgepodge of my favorite television shows.  This is what happens when I don't know what else to talk about on the ole blog. Not my photo.  Linked from real owner's URL. I didn't start watching The Walking Dead until season two had been mostly aired.  A coworker or two had mentioned it, and Facebook was abuzz with how fabulous it was.  I'm so glad I let peer pressure goad me into watching the first season on Netflix.  I was soon up-to-date and eagerly awaiting Sunday nights.   What I Love:  The fact the zombies are often less of a threat than the human survivors.  I really think this show has a lot to say about human nature, both the good and bad.  Not my photo.  Linked from real owner's URL. I've been a fan of The Big Bang Theory for quite a few years now.  I enjoyed it when it was just Penny and the boys, but now that they've added in Bernadette and Amy, I find the show 100% more enjoyable. ...

So far this year my little sixth grader has created two science videos, both set to music.  In case you're unable to make sense of the first video, the boys had to work in the elements of the water cycle into their lyrics. Although they had their lyrics mostly put together before they arrived at my house, it took them nearly a hour and a half to finalize their song and start recording.  I remember being slightly out of patience with them.  Okay, maybe more than slightly.  I think I may have even pulled out the "I'm-not-messing-around-anymore" voice in order to get them focused on the task at hand.   If you're wondering, my little guy is the one in the sideways hat.  Don't ask.  I don't know.  Apparently he was trying to be gangsta.  Heh.  For the record, my irritation with their ADHD-like behavior evaporated when I was finally able to view the video.  I mean, really, how cute are they?  Not to mention I was ...

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If we home schooled the children, would I have less gray hair? Will I ever be able to get rid of some of this belly fat? Why do good people have to die so young? Will mankind ever create the technology to make space colonization possible? Is the inability to turn in a homework assignment on time really the fault of the ADHD, or is the ADHD just a convenient excuse? Why does dried fruit have to so fattening?  It's fruit, and as such, shouldn't it be "good" for me to eat? Would I really be disciplined enough to write everyday if I quit my job or retired early? Why did our middle school cancel boys baseball? Why is my side of the car always cold and his side always hot?