Miru hito shidai
Back in the late 80s/ early 90s, newspaper print patterns were the trend. Recreating English newspaper pages as a pattern was cool. There were newspaper print pattern pants, newspaper print pattern curtains, and, of course, newspaper print pattern wrapping paper. I had a friend who said "one of these days, I would love to get an armful of Baby's breath (another early 90s trend) wrapped in English newspaper. I would often start reading what was printed and find it riddled with grammatical errors at best. At worst, it would be jibberish. I once wrapped a gift to a friend in sheets torn out from Time magazine and taped a cheap silk flower I found lying around in the house on the ribbon (also found lying around in the house). My friend thought I was Martha Stewart. Or at least, she would have thought I was Martha Stewart if she'd known about Martha Stewart.
So I was amused to find this on marthastewart.com
Coolness is in the eye of the beholder.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Universal law of gravity
Banyuu inryoku no housoku
My former boss left our workplace about seven or so years ago, but acted as an unpaid consultant type, doing stuff here and there for us. Then she decided she didn't want to do the consulting gig anymore. Which is her choice, really, but the downside of this is that much of the work she did has now become the job of yours truly. Kind of like a Newtonian physics type deal. Stuff always falls downward, including work.
One of the things she did was an hour-long class for undergrad students. When I found out I was supposed to do this class in her place, I asked her if I could see her Powerpoint slides. About a week and a half later, she sent me and my current boss a rather huffy e-mail telling all of us off. Which, well, I can't really do anything about, but I really wish I could have seen those slides, because I have had to spend pretty much every spare moment I have had for the past two weeks preparing for this class from scratch.
So anyway, I'm fine, just very very busy. And I've shown some people what work I have so far, and I've been told it is probably more helpful and practical, if not quite as interesting, as the lecture my old boss gave.
And to my friends who teach formal classes on a regular basis, I have always thought you were cool, but now I think you are awesome.
My former boss left our workplace about seven or so years ago, but acted as an unpaid consultant type, doing stuff here and there for us. Then she decided she didn't want to do the consulting gig anymore. Which is her choice, really, but the downside of this is that much of the work she did has now become the job of yours truly. Kind of like a Newtonian physics type deal. Stuff always falls downward, including work.
One of the things she did was an hour-long class for undergrad students. When I found out I was supposed to do this class in her place, I asked her if I could see her Powerpoint slides. About a week and a half later, she sent me and my current boss a rather huffy e-mail telling all of us off. Which, well, I can't really do anything about, but I really wish I could have seen those slides, because I have had to spend pretty much every spare moment I have had for the past two weeks preparing for this class from scratch.
So anyway, I'm fine, just very very busy. And I've shown some people what work I have so far, and I've been told it is probably more helpful and practical, if not quite as interesting, as the lecture my old boss gave.
And to my friends who teach formal classes on a regular basis, I have always thought you were cool, but now I think you are awesome.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Lacks basic knowledge
Kiso chishiki ga nai
Santa Claus came to the Pumpkin Palace and Christmas morning, the Pumpkin Prince and Princess found gifts under the tree. The Princess found a gift that the Pumpkin Mommy had refused to buy for her on her birthday two weeks ago, a battery powered monstrosity of pink plastic that flashes and sparkles and plays "Go Tell Aunt Rhodie". If that's not proof positive there is a Santa Claus, the Pumpkin Princess does not know what would possibly make your sorry soul believe.
"Aren't you glad Santa bought that for you?" the Pumpkin Daddy said to a beaming Pumpkin Princess as she made the environmentally unfriendly contraption play "Lightly Row".
"Santa doesn't buy toys, the elves make them in Santa's Workshop," I cut in.
"Santa has elves?"
"Santa has elves. They work for him, make the toys, package and wrap them, and put them in the proper sacks according to global region."
"Wow." The Pumpkin Daddy was impressed. "I wish I had elves."
And this was where the Pumpkin Prince wrestled the sparkly, shiny, tinkly toxic landfill fodder from his older sister, and WWIII broke out in the Pumpkin Palace living room, even without intervention from Muslim Fundamentalist Extremists or quasi-communist powers going through the third generation of their regime. This did not surprise me, nor did the fact that the Pumpkin Daddy did not know Santa had elves. Just another morning at the Pumpkin Palace.
Santa Claus came to the Pumpkin Palace and Christmas morning, the Pumpkin Prince and Princess found gifts under the tree. The Princess found a gift that the Pumpkin Mommy had refused to buy for her on her birthday two weeks ago, a battery powered monstrosity of pink plastic that flashes and sparkles and plays "Go Tell Aunt Rhodie". If that's not proof positive there is a Santa Claus, the Pumpkin Princess does not know what would possibly make your sorry soul believe.
"Aren't you glad Santa bought that for you?" the Pumpkin Daddy said to a beaming Pumpkin Princess as she made the environmentally unfriendly contraption play "Lightly Row".
"Santa doesn't buy toys, the elves make them in Santa's Workshop," I cut in.
"Santa has elves?"
"Santa has elves. They work for him, make the toys, package and wrap them, and put them in the proper sacks according to global region."
"Wow." The Pumpkin Daddy was impressed. "I wish I had elves."
And this was where the Pumpkin Prince wrestled the sparkly, shiny, tinkly toxic landfill fodder from his older sister, and WWIII broke out in the Pumpkin Palace living room, even without intervention from Muslim Fundamentalist Extremists or quasi-communist powers going through the third generation of their regime. This did not surprise me, nor did the fact that the Pumpkin Daddy did not know Santa had elves. Just another morning at the Pumpkin Palace.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Starting next time...
Tsugi kara ha...
The next time you meet up with a friend you haven't seen in a quarter of a century,
1) Take more than one picture with her
2) Take pictures in a well lit place
3) Give the camera to the person who has been taking the most pictures.
Oh well. We'll always haveParis Wicked.
The next time you meet up with a friend you haven't seen in a quarter of a century,
1) Take more than one picture with her
2) Take pictures in a well lit place
3) Give the camera to the person who has been taking the most pictures.
Oh well. We'll always have
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Long story...
Hanaseba nagai
The Pumpkin Daddy has decided he wants to take piano lessons. He was in band in high school, but he has never had proper music lessons. I admire his "never too late to start" attitude, and the seriousness with which he tackles the variation of the Mozart piece he has been assigned.
(To my non-classical music buff friends: I am trying to be clever. He's playing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star".)
Behind him, the Pumpkin Princess is swiffing in her Cinderella dress. Long story.
The Pumpkin Prince is also swiffing. The skirt is his sister's. Even longer story.
The Pumpkin Daddy has decided he wants to take piano lessons. He was in band in high school, but he has never had proper music lessons. I admire his "never too late to start" attitude, and the seriousness with which he tackles the variation of the Mozart piece he has been assigned.
(To my non-classical music buff friends: I am trying to be clever. He's playing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star".)
Behind him, the Pumpkin Princess is swiffing in her Cinderella dress. Long story.
The Pumpkin Prince is also swiffing. The skirt is his sister's. Even longer story.
I want to go too!
Boku mo ikitai!
The Pumpkin Daddy and Pumpkin Princess started taking piano lessons last month.
The new piano...OK, not a real piano, but an electronic piano so that 1) they can practice late at night with headphones 2) the floor won't cave in was delivered last weekend. They practice every day....OK, almost every day.
Piano lessons are at the teacher's studio three times a month, which is about a five-minute walk from our house. The Pumpkin Princess and Pumpkin Daddy have their lessons back to back, which means they walk there together and wait through each other's lessons. Pumpkin Daddy likes to take my iPad and the Pumpkin Princess takes along her sparkly colored pens and her drawing pad. They leave with excitement and anticipation in their hearts. For now, anyway. Let me get back to you in a few months.
And then there are some who are left behind against their will.
The Pumpkin Daddy and Pumpkin Princess started taking piano lessons last month.
The new piano...OK, not a real piano, but an electronic piano so that 1) they can practice late at night with headphones 2) the floor won't cave in was delivered last weekend. They practice every day....OK, almost every day.
Piano lessons are at the teacher's studio three times a month, which is about a five-minute walk from our house. The Pumpkin Princess and Pumpkin Daddy have their lessons back to back, which means they walk there together and wait through each other's lessons. Pumpkin Daddy likes to take my iPad and the Pumpkin Princess takes along her sparkly colored pens and her drawing pad. They leave with excitement and anticipation in their hearts. For now, anyway. Let me get back to you in a few months.
And then there are some who are left behind against their will.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
You won't find out until you try.
Yatte minai to wakaranai.
Some things you just don't find out until you try them.
A length of animal print fabric tied around the waist as part of a dance costume is a good idea on a post-pubertal female.
A group of 5 year-old boys, not so much. By the second half of the performance, some of the youngsters looked like they were going to trip.
Maybe something involving elastic would have been a better idea.
As always, the Pumpkin Daycare Christmas show is five star entertainment. It always keeps evolving.
Some things you just don't find out until you try them.
A length of animal print fabric tied around the waist as part of a dance costume is a good idea on a post-pubertal female.
A group of 5 year-old boys, not so much. By the second half of the performance, some of the youngsters looked like they were going to trip.
Maybe something involving elastic would have been a better idea.
As always, the Pumpkin Daycare Christmas show is five star entertainment. It always keeps evolving.
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