My Story Placed in a Contest

My latest "story" just placed fourth in a contest. It is a six word story, in the stile of Ernest Hemingway.

Yes we can! A Story by Dianne

I started a new blog

Hey, I've started a new blog on personal finance. Come check it out, leave a comment or ask a question. I'd love to hear from you.

Reactivating the Family Blog

Hey it's been a long time since I've posted anything here. I talked to David yesterday and he and Catherine are going to post some family pictures and stuff they said. So I'm hopeful that we will once again see some activity on this blog. To get us back in business I'm posting a link to my writings on the web.

Read My Writing

I'm hoping that Mom and Dad and Kathy and Howard and any one else who was there will post pictures and notes about Heidi's wedding and what ever else is going on. Sorry I couldn't be there.

If you know of someone who didn't get signed up before and would like to join the family blog now, do let me know.

new year, new quarter

Well, it's been a while since anybody's posted, so I figured I might as well say 'hi' while I procrasitnate reading the rest of the chapter for my history class.

I made the dean's list last quarter, but it doesn't seem like the school cares much for the few students who manage to do that since all we get is a letter say 'congratulations, give yourself a pat on the back & keep up the good work.' They don't seem to care that I worked 31 hours a week besides having 15.5 upper division credits which I got A- or better. But whatever. I actually enjoyed most of my classes last quarter. I was taking Elementary Modern Physics which was hard, but interesting and the teacher was hilarious. Mechanics was a bit easier but the homeworks took a lot of time. I also took Intro to Computer Programing which I got pretty easily and the teacher wanted to get me to add a computer science major or switch all together. Of course the homeworks and labs were VERY long. My religion class that I took last quarter was Biblical Archaeology and Culture which, aside from the two 4 page reports we had to write and give a presentation on, ended up being an easy 4 upper division Bible credits. Aside from classes and working 24 hours Friday through Sunday at the dinning commons, I was the TA for the Physics with Calculus class because the original TA had a biology lab to attend at the same time. I also was the TA for the Astronomy labs and I got to set up the telescope we have at the observatory and I've become an expert on where most of the autumn constellations are and I can name almost 20 stars in those constellations. I'll have to do some self study during the spring and summer before I know most of the visible northern hemisphere constellations and stars. Oh, and I occasionally tutored for the astronomy class last quarter. I only had 2 people come on 3 different days, but I wasn't going to complain too much since I did get paid and free time to work on my homework. And the one girl that did come twice said she did very well on her exams so that was good.

This quarter doesn't look like it's going to be as interesting, and I'm only taking 1 physics class which is the second quarter of Mechanics. So I'm getting more of my generals out of the way. I'm taking survey of music which as much as I love and enjoy most types of music, I'd rather not take this class. Today we learned about rhythm, melody, timbre, and got to listen to wolves howleling, a disturbing chant thing from some European country, and Sousa's Stars & Stripes. I'm also taking History 102 which I had tried to put off but I can't anymore, so I'm taking it from this crazy lady who might love history just a bit too much. I'm taking another upper division religion class called Women of the Bible and our first class is tomorrow so we'll see how interesting it is. I'm also taking Intro to Philosophy since its required before I can take Philosophy of Science and Religion which is a required class. It only meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, so I'll find out tomorrow how that class is. Oh, and the lady who's doing our gym class is making us write papers for it....the class is called Fitness for Women and I thought it would be something where I'd set up a little workout routine that I could do then leave, but it looks likek she's going to make it a bit more complicated & girly than that. She said somethin about a curves circuit or something like that & spinning & various other things that I wasn't paying attention to so I guess I'll see how that turns out.

At least I get to sleep in a bit more this quarter, my earliest class is at 9 and only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so that will be nice. And I get to grade for another class this quarter instead of just the one math class. My advisor asked me if I was willing to grade the assignments for th new EMT class and since everything was multiple choice stuff from their books and basic fill in the blanks he doesn't think it will matter that I haven't taken the class and not even an emergency services major (they just created that new major this year). Also if the grader for the astronomy lecture isn't going to grade this quarter, they've asked if I'd do that too. So I might be grading papers for 3 classes, helping the astronomy lab, and working weekends at the caf.

I'll be going to LA January 18-20 for a physics conference which sounds interesting and it's specifically for women going into the physics profession. Other than that the only other interesting thing that will happen between now and next summer is I get to go to London with a group from home including my best friend. Its for an English class through the community college at home, but we don't have to get English credit if we don't want to. We'll be leaving at the end of May and we'll stay there 10 days. Since it is for an English class we'll mostly be focusing on the theatres and stuff like that. We're scheduled to see 3 plays and visit a few other places including Stonehenge. I'm looking forward to that a lot even if I will be missing a bunch of classes.

Well, I suppose I should get back to my reading. I hope everyone has a good year!
JJ

Updating My Website

It's been a while since I've posted here. I've been busy with a lot of stuff and rather than go into the long borring parts I'm just going to let you all know that I've added a page to my website about coaching. My coahing page is here. I am also in the process of creating a page for my book which is do to be released week after next. I still don't have an exact date, but now they are talking about less than two weeks. I'm very excited.

I've been spinning quite a bit lately and now I'm thinking that I need to start knitting again or I will soon be over run with yarn. Jerilynn flew into SF Saturday night and I drove her up to PUC on Sunday. It's hard to believe she is a junior already! While she was here I got to see the hoodie Terrie knitted up for her. It's really nice and it's even in my color. lol Terrie, I'd love to see you put up some more pictures of what you've been knitting. Your work is so beautiful. Hey, maybe we could get a picture of the Blues Brother posted too!

Hope to see more of you posting on here again. I love you, Dianne

What's New With You?

Well, here it is with spring around the corner, and it's been half of forever since I posted here. Hey Don, it's good to see your post. How's Sandy's foot doing? We have a friend of our neighbor's that is cutting down the dead maple tree that sits on the front corner between our two houses. Yesterday he cut into a hollow part and out came a mamma squirrel with a baby in her mouth. There was another baby still in the nest. That kind of put a halt to everything. Fortunately, the chain saw didn't seem to hurt anyone, and after we put the other baby on the ground covered by nest-"stuff" we surrounded it with some small branches to keep the neighborhood dogs and cats away. It didn't take too long after we had left before mom came back for the other baby. So I guess the squirrel family has a new home now. And today the friend is back cutting up the last of the wood.
It being spring and all, I'm itching for one of those crisp spring picnics--the kind where it's still a little too cold and damp to sit on the ground. I used to make up nuteena spread with chunks of nuteena, onions, celery and mayo and take sandwiches outside to eat with the kids and Norman. But now there is no more nuteena :-(
So, Mom do you still have that recipe you made up to simulate it? If so, I sure would like to get it. Probably would only make it once a year in the early spring...but it sure would be neat to have those nuteena picnics again!

Follow your bliss!

Well, I just finnished watching one of my favorite movies, The Secret. If you haven't seen it I highly recommend it as it truly contains The Secret to getting everything you want in life. Follow your bliss!

I've kind of forgotten to do that lately. I've allowed myself to get so caught up in day to day stuff that I haven't taken time to do the things I love most. So, I've just started some sourdough. "What?!" Yep, sourdough! It's been ages since I've made any and I decided that today is the day. Well this weekend actually since I have to start a new sponge. It has been that long since I've made any. Lucky for me I live where it is easy to get new San Francisco starter, which is my favorite. I can hardly wait 'till Sunday when the first loaf is ready. Hot from the oven, melting butter all over it, yah! I'll have a bite for you too.

Love you lots,
Dianne