-B and I were supposed to go to Temecula for a romantic wine tasting and relaxation get away weekend.
Instead we are home with our kids.
Little Jo is sick and needs breathing treatments for her asthma. She coughs until she vomits. Nolan came home from school and was disapointed that we weren't gone.
I can't think of a better place to be. It makes me appreciate what we have, and I am ever so grateful that our family helps out and is so encouraging.
Of course, me and B had a glass of wine and watched the first season of "The Office" tonight, so that helped too. :)
Friday, March 31, 2006
Thursday, March 30, 2006
"OWWWW..."
That's what Little Jo says when she sees my moles on my back.
For some reason she is FASCINATED with them, especially when I lean over the tub to draw her bath.
She will make it a point to come up to me, lift up the back of my shirt and touch them-
all the while saying," Owwwww..."
It cracks me up.
For some reason she is FASCINATED with them, especially when I lean over the tub to draw her bath.
She will make it a point to come up to me, lift up the back of my shirt and touch them-
all the while saying," Owwwww..."
It cracks me up.
I'm Slow Today.
Just thought I'd share that.
Sorry I've been slacking in my posts- It's been a busy week (all good stuff!)
B and I are going away to Temecula for a wine tasting/relaxation weekend.
I am looking forward to it.
I went on a field trip with Nolan to the San Gabriel Mission on Wednesday.
I will try to get that together in the days to come.
Sorry I've been slacking in my posts- It's been a busy week (all good stuff!)
B and I are going away to Temecula for a wine tasting/relaxation weekend.
I am looking forward to it.
I went on a field trip with Nolan to the San Gabriel Mission on Wednesday.
I will try to get that together in the days to come.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Life is not about the moments we breath, but the moments that take our breath away-
I had the most excellent telephone conversation today with a friend of mine from church.
She is in her late seventies, and her energy rivals mine on a GOOD day.
I felt like I was instilled with little nuggets of wisdom- maybe some of the words don't apply much to me right now, but I'm sure one day I will remember what was said and bring it to the forefront of my brain to put them to good use.
She was telling me about a woman she visits on a regular basis. This woman is 104 years old, has failing eyesight, and lives on her own. My friend told me that the woman said to her on her last visit, "When you are here, I can see sunshine."
Let's all be someone's sunshine...
She is in her late seventies, and her energy rivals mine on a GOOD day.
I felt like I was instilled with little nuggets of wisdom- maybe some of the words don't apply much to me right now, but I'm sure one day I will remember what was said and bring it to the forefront of my brain to put them to good use.
She was telling me about a woman she visits on a regular basis. This woman is 104 years old, has failing eyesight, and lives on her own. My friend told me that the woman said to her on her last visit, "When you are here, I can see sunshine."
Let's all be someone's sunshine...
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Where did the week go?
Oh my gosh, I can't believe it's Thursday night already.
Yay weekend!
It was an absolutely beautiful day today- in the high 70's with a slight breeze.
Right around dusk, I got a faint glimpse of summertime- the evening
breezes were blowing and it was still light outside and warm.
Perfect swimming weather!
I'm so ready for daylight savings time.
Yay weekend!
It was an absolutely beautiful day today- in the high 70's with a slight breeze.
Right around dusk, I got a faint glimpse of summertime- the evening
breezes were blowing and it was still light outside and warm.
Perfect swimming weather!
I'm so ready for daylight savings time.
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Oh, and if you have extra time...
This is a pretty cool blog about Disneyland and how they are trying to recreate the "spark" that's missing...
Some great classic pictures of the park too.
Some great classic pictures of the park too.
Pachyderms on Parade
I enjoy living in close proximity to the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds.
On any given weekend, you can tell what event is going on, just by driving on Arrow Highway and checking out the vehicles sharing the road with you. Some days it's classic cars or other days it's the drag races. Today, it was beautiful, custom gigantic motor homes.
They were in single file in the slow lane, one after another, with their Honda CVXs or Toyota Rav 4s in tow behind. It reminded me of those scenes in cartoons or movies where the elephants are marching slowly in a row, with their babies behind them holding onto their tails.
Each coach was exquisite and individual, with gold, brown, silver, blue, stunning metallic paint jobs and custom airbrushed pictures of lions, cheetah, jaguars and other regal animals in full view on the back of the motorhome. But what impressed upon me the most was that their extra vehicle matched their coaches paint job! They were color coordinated, just like a clothing outfit.
The scene served to remind me that there are so many wonders in this world, and endless possibilities available to enjoy them. You just have to get out there and do it. I hope that when Mr. B and I are older, like most of the drivers I saw today, that we too have the presence of mind, health, and the opportunity to pursue the adventures out there.
Family Motor Coach Association
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Catching up-and Pres'kit snow!
I am on Spring Break this week so I had a chance to catch up on organizing and posting some photos.
Head on over and check them out-
There are also some cool snow photos my Pop sent.
Head on over and check them out-
There are also some cool snow photos my Pop sent.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
I got bit by the bug
-the scrapbooking bug, that is!
It all started innocently enough at a scrapbooking night at My Gym.
Now, my best friend Kathy and I are searching shops for sales and picking out coordinating paper stock.
It is fun!
I have completed one small book about our family, and the next book will be about our camping trips.
I even Tivo'd a DIY network show...
I enjoy the time with Kathy, and it is fun to see how best friends can stay together over 30+ years due to their
changing, but similar interests.
It all started innocently enough at a scrapbooking night at My Gym.
Now, my best friend Kathy and I are searching shops for sales and picking out coordinating paper stock.
It is fun!
I have completed one small book about our family, and the next book will be about our camping trips.
I even Tivo'd a DIY network show...
I enjoy the time with Kathy, and it is fun to see how best friends can stay together over 30+ years due to their
changing, but similar interests.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
My Husband was on the Oscars last night...
-well at least his visual effects nominated shot from Chronicles of Narnia was!
When they were announcing the nominees for the best Visual Effects category for 2005,
they showed a clip from Chronicles of Narnia.
It was the battle scene, and it was Brian's shot!
Whoo Hoo Mr. B!
You rock!
When they were announcing the nominees for the best Visual Effects category for 2005,
they showed a clip from Chronicles of Narnia.
It was the battle scene, and it was Brian's shot!
Whoo Hoo Mr. B!
You rock!
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Girl Scout Cookies...
...are a worthy opponent and a formidable enemy!!
Look at them sitting there, so innocent looking, yet so yummy...
Lemon Coolers Rock! (actual size shown!) :)
What would your cells sound like if they could "talk"?
My medical terminology class is always interesting. I think it is a combination of my instructor and his gruff demeanor
(his last memorable quote to the class was, "It's easier to start an asshole and get nicer, than to start nice and become an asshole...) and the vast array of films and pictures we view which illustrate the various medical conditions and procedures we are learning about.
The film we watched in class was about a man who had Parkinson's disease. His hands and legs shook excessively with uncontrollable tremors. His last opportunity for some semblance of a normal life was an intricate and delicate brain surgery, during which he would be awake and required to talk and move. This type of neurosurgery is called sterotactic surgery, and basically involves the surgeon inserting a probe into the patient's brain through a hole in his skull. The goal is to reach a portion of the brain called the subthalamus, which houses most of the cells that lack the proper chemical to dissipate the muscle contractions and tremors. When this area is reached, the probe burns, or lesions, the brain tissue -killing it- and the tremors subside or ease up.
There are some images and pictures available to help guide the surgeon in the proper placement of the probe, but the primary method the surgeon used was "mapping" the brain using frequencies produced from the electrode. Where do these frequencies come from? That is the fascinating part- the electrodes pick up the electrical impulse that is created when the nerve cell fires a command either from the sensory cell to the brain, or from the brain back down to the muscle. It showed the ossicilations and waves from each impulse on a screen, as well as the audible "buzz" that the cells make when the impulse is picked up.
As the probe is inserted deeper in the brain, each layer of tissue has different cells for different functions, and each cell makes a different frequency and sound. It was amazing! The patient would move his fingers, and the pattern on the screen was an individual moment in time of his cells working to make that function happen, with its own sound and shape.
The surgeon could then find his way based on interpreting these patterns and sounds, and where they fit in for each tissue level. One surgeon interviewed said it was like overhearing various conversations on the subway, but being able to understand them. He also said it was sometimes spooky when they picked up radio waves on the electrodes and could hear music or broadcasts through the patient.
The surgery was successful and enabled the patient to have a considerable amount of improvement in his range of motion and freedom in his lifestyle.
But it got me thinking:
maybe some form of "mind reading" is possible-
If machines can pick up on our cells and how they "talk", why couldn't other humans who are exceptionally sensitive with their cells and how they "talk" and "listen" do the same thing?
Also, isn't it sad how cells, (the most basic building blocks of who we are) can "talk" and communicate-but human beings who are made of millions of these cells coming together to form spectacular body systems,( one of which is motor function) which enables us to process thoughts, move our jaw, articulate our tongues and vocal cords to produce words, can't talk to each other?
Maybe I should be a science fiction writer...
(his last memorable quote to the class was, "It's easier to start an asshole and get nicer, than to start nice and become an asshole...) and the vast array of films and pictures we view which illustrate the various medical conditions and procedures we are learning about.
The film we watched in class was about a man who had Parkinson's disease. His hands and legs shook excessively with uncontrollable tremors. His last opportunity for some semblance of a normal life was an intricate and delicate brain surgery, during which he would be awake and required to talk and move. This type of neurosurgery is called sterotactic surgery, and basically involves the surgeon inserting a probe into the patient's brain through a hole in his skull. The goal is to reach a portion of the brain called the subthalamus, which houses most of the cells that lack the proper chemical to dissipate the muscle contractions and tremors. When this area is reached, the probe burns, or lesions, the brain tissue -killing it- and the tremors subside or ease up.
There are some images and pictures available to help guide the surgeon in the proper placement of the probe, but the primary method the surgeon used was "mapping" the brain using frequencies produced from the electrode. Where do these frequencies come from? That is the fascinating part- the electrodes pick up the electrical impulse that is created when the nerve cell fires a command either from the sensory cell to the brain, or from the brain back down to the muscle. It showed the ossicilations and waves from each impulse on a screen, as well as the audible "buzz" that the cells make when the impulse is picked up.
As the probe is inserted deeper in the brain, each layer of tissue has different cells for different functions, and each cell makes a different frequency and sound. It was amazing! The patient would move his fingers, and the pattern on the screen was an individual moment in time of his cells working to make that function happen, with its own sound and shape.
The surgeon could then find his way based on interpreting these patterns and sounds, and where they fit in for each tissue level. One surgeon interviewed said it was like overhearing various conversations on the subway, but being able to understand them. He also said it was sometimes spooky when they picked up radio waves on the electrodes and could hear music or broadcasts through the patient.
The surgery was successful and enabled the patient to have a considerable amount of improvement in his range of motion and freedom in his lifestyle.
But it got me thinking:
maybe some form of "mind reading" is possible-
If machines can pick up on our cells and how they "talk", why couldn't other humans who are exceptionally sensitive with their cells and how they "talk" and "listen" do the same thing?
Also, isn't it sad how cells, (the most basic building blocks of who we are) can "talk" and communicate-but human beings who are made of millions of these cells coming together to form spectacular body systems,( one of which is motor function) which enables us to process thoughts, move our jaw, articulate our tongues and vocal cords to produce words, can't talk to each other?
Maybe I should be a science fiction writer...
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