| I know that everyone on my friends list is quite literate, so I believe this is a good place to post this question. I need a book that will give me a good overview of World History. I plan to take the Foreign Service Exam since I will be graduating soon, and I want to keep add this to my options.
Anyway, my knowledge of world history is spotty at best. I know a great bit about Middle Eastern history, but I need to brush up on European history. Please inform me of good books that will help fill in this gap in my knowledge.....
Thanks. | comments: 4 comments or Leave a comment   |
| I struggle often, perhaps daily, with myself. It seems there are two different 'me's that are in conflict for personal dominance. One is the 'artist' self. This side of me wants to create by painting, composing, sewing and such. The other is the 'academic' self. This person desires to sit with a book in hand all day long and research and learn, to pursue knowledge.
So which one wins? I am attempting to find balance between the two. Give each their ample exercise....
How about you? Do you struggle with multiple 'selves?' | | comments: 7 comments or Leave a comment |
| The kids were playing nicely in their room early this morning, so I decided to put in a video that I had gotten from Netflix. The video is titled Death in Gaza, and it is a documentary about the Palestinian children caught up in the war with Israel. The filmmaker, James Miller, was going to do a second film about the Israeli children, but he was shot, and killed, by Israeli militants before he was able to make that film.
While viewing this film, my children entered the room with many question. Initially, I thought that I should turn it off, but then I decided to chat with them about it. Yes, they are quite young, and so probably missed a bit of what I was trying to impress upon them, but I enjoyed the dialogue and I think they may have learned from it.
First they wanted to know who the 'bad guys' are. I told them that there were no 'bad guys' and that, in real life, bad guys didn't usually exist, just differing view, values and ideologies (not easy to explain to a five year old, but I think they got the point after a bit).
I did attempt to shed light on the injustices the Palestinians have suffered, that the children are not able to grow up without fear and desperation.
I truly wish that Mr. Miller had been able to make the other film, about the Israeli children effected by the conflict, but someone else will have to do that part. The Palestinian peoples do not have the benefit of news and media coverage the way that the Israeli side does, as they are not our allies. They are always portrayed as 'the enemy.' Therefore, I appreciate a film that presents an accurate depiction of the events occurring 'over there.' I do not condone killing ever, but I understand why they are doing it.... | | comments: Leave a comment |
| I have been enjoying this video today... Wait til you get to the end, that is where all the fun is....
| | comments: 2 comments or Leave a comment |
| I just saw Coraline for the first time. They are showing it at the Millennium, so I was able to take the whole family. May I just say, it was mind bogglingly cool! It made me want to rush home and make dollies....which I have not done for some time now... years in fact.
Some days I let the kids decide the meal plan. When this happens, often it is an eclectic meal. Today we are having pb & j sandwiches with home baked fries and pickles. Not necessarily to my liking, but it suits them.....
Looking forward to the festivities of the weekend. Unfortunately I fear it may rain on my parade, quite literally... *sigh* Any indoor, family friendly shenanigans happening this weekend?
Oh, and I MUST get some Cadbury Cream Eggs. Oh so decadent and necessary! | | comments: 1 comment or Leave a comment |
| Adelle has been bugging me for more girl superheroes. Unfortunately there are few female superhero or transformer action figures.... So I made her one....
The photo is a bit blurry, but you get the idea.... | | comments: 2 comments or Leave a comment |
| I just found the perfect workout:
And a very interesting animal I didn't even know existed...
 | | comments: 2 comments or Leave a comment |
| Today is a good day and I am actually enjoying the outside gloominess.
Why is it that the simple act of marking items off of a 'to do' list is so gratifying.
Sitting in a rocking chair, listening to the rain, and sipping a hot cup of tea; things that go well together... | | comments: Leave a comment |
| Spring cleaning..... I wanted to offer this to my friends first, before advertising on Craigslist. I have a working printer as well as a working scanner that I no longer need. The printer needs new cartridges (available for $5.99 on Amazon) and the scanner needs a plug in cord (though I am quite certain I have it and will find it in the next couple days....
Anyone want 'em.... Come and get em...... | | comments: Leave a comment |
| | What a gloomy day. I moved back to Austin to get away from the grey, dismal weather, but it appears to have followed me. Many times I enjoy it, but that is when it happens only occasionally. Today, however, I am stuck in the house. Perhaps some yoga, a good book, and hot tea will set me in a better space. | | comments: 5 comments or Leave a comment |
| I have decided to make some significant changes to my diet, which is already quite healthy, but could do with a bit of improving....
What I am drastically reducing in my diet:
* dairy
* corn syrup
* coffee
What I am increasing:
* tea
* fresh juices | | comments: Leave a comment |
| | I know that Leonard Cohen is worth it, but I cannot afford the $85.50 for the cheap seats. It is troublesome that concert tickets are so expensive. Goodness!! I think I will ask the fairies to bring me some 'spare' tix as a gift. | | comments: 2 comments or Leave a comment |
| It has been a great while since I purchased a printer. I have been mostly content to fuss around with my old school Epson 740. I mean, at least it is a color printer, and I don't print much but school documents anyway. However, in searching for the best price for cartridges I happened upon a phenomenal deal (or so I thought). I found a special being run on a copier/printer/scanner at Best Buy for $69. I was quite pleased and so decided to buy it. I already have a printer and scanner, but a combo would save me a good bit of desk space and it would be nice to have items a bit more up-to-date.....
Anyway, after getting this lovely new, sleek piece of equipment home, I discovered an evil plot by manufacturers - the USB cable is not included. After looking all over for it I finally decided to read the box for 'contents' and come to find out, the are in practice of not including this absolutely necessary item.
At this point I called Best Buy to get a price for the cable. They told me that it would cost me approximately $35, before tax. Suddenly my 'phenomenal deal' was no longer even a 'deal'. Fortunately I decided to do some investigating and found that these cables are fairly universal. If I go to Discount Electronics I will pay about $5, or if I go to Goodwill Computer Works they are about $2.50. So guess where I am headed.....
Stay tuned for goofy uploads @ www.flickr.com/spidergoddess of photos documenting my childhood..... | | comments: Leave a comment |
| I got back about a month ago and have been settling into a familiar, yet completely different routine. For instance, I am taking classes, but at ACC. I have a large number of required courses which I have delayed taking. As a result I am taking them online at ACC so that when I go back to UT in the fall I can concentrate solely on Arabic and not Govt or Rhetoric.
Also, I am staying home with the kids all day. This relieves the burden of child care which saves a chunk of money, but it sure tires me out. I have been trying to find inexpensive (free) things to do with them that will keep them from being 'bored' and allow me a tiny bit of space. We go to the park every day and this help quite a bit.
I have started reconnecting with folks whom I treasure.
In addition I have been exercising my creative side. Recently many cool projects have presented themselves and I am quite pleased to be involved in those.
Life is quite good. | | comments: 6 comments or Leave a comment |
| | I just finished a Doctor Who: S3 marathon and I have one thing to say.... EXCELLENT....and David Tennant has finally grown on me to where I no longer miss the old Doctor. | | comments: 1 comment or Leave a comment |
| | I got my new toy in the mail today.... A USB Interface Turntable. Now I am having a grand old time converting my record collection to MP3. Seriously, I am really enjoying this! | | comments: 1 comment or Leave a comment |
| When my daughter was first born my son took it very well. Yet after he began to realize that she was not going anywhere his opinions of her became a little less certain. He saw that she was in constant need of attention when awake and so was always in someone's arms, and oh how folks do coo over a newborn bebe. As a result Zeph somewhere along the line realized that ailment would get him similar attention, so 'My tummy hurts' became almost a mantra for him. In fact he said it so much that when my daughter began to string words together one of her first phrases was 'tummy hurt'.
My sister had a wee addition to her family a month ago and I get to see the whole process, or phenomena, occur again. Last night, Bailee insisted to her mommy that she needed to throw up. Her mommy told me she has been saying that a lot recently.... | | comments: Leave a comment |
| I do this oh so often... purging my home of excess. I have never been particularly good at this, but my frequent moving is making this a necessity. Right now I am taking a bit of a break and trying to decided which space to work on next.
One thing I have learned from my purges is that I really enjoy relocating certain treasures. You know, the ones which you love but have no real use for anymore, or perhaps never did. When I am able to put them in the hands of folks I adore who will put them to good use it thrills me. Today I have been doing that. I am happy.... | | comments: Leave a comment |
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