From a Whisper to a Scream

I'm back in my brother's place in the Fucinobe district of Sagamihara. So far we've visited the site of Atsuko's disappearance. It really was only about 15 ft from the exit ramp for the idivers. Very freaky. An old fisherman who had helped in the search was out walking and stopped to talk to my brother, saying they were all still disconcerted that no sign, body or equipment has shown up - very unusual. it was a tough day as we were there exactly 2 weeks to the minute of her disappearance.

We traveled to Suwa for the next two days to visit Atusko's parents. Did manage to get in a visit to the 15th cent Shinto shrine were the family does it's ceremonies and her father has does stone work. Also got to visit a museum in a 19th cent merchants house - finally got to see my 'samuri movie house.' We've been fed royally by family and friends. had my first wild boar and bear hunted by Atsuko's father on Sunday and eaten Monday. I hope I fit in my beautiful tight white investiture dress on Saturday.

That's reallt about all the 'sight seeing' we've done as we really came to be with my brother and he's having a difficult time with all this, obviously. We take everything on a day to day basis. i know every time I hear his phone ring, I wonder if it's the call, so I can:t at all imagine what he must be going through. My brothers are trying to convince him to visit them in maui for Christmas.

That's all for now. Japan is interesting, wish I was here under different curcumstances. Please forgive typing errors, I'm using my brother's computor and every so often hit the tab which sends me to kangi :-P

So HM Uther has been doing a great PR job and a few us are seriously contemplating the trek to March Crown. Actually it will be a shorter drive than making it to some of An Tir's events (so feel for you Avacalians).

Who else is thinking about making it down? Wouldn't it be fine if the An Tir fighters outnumbered the Westies in their own lists? Maybe Sven and Signey could go for West Coast domination and take the Western and Caid Crowns too. Wouldn't that be fun Signey? You could charter private leer jets to transport you from event to event for a few months.

Maybe we can discuss plans over drinks at Ursalmas. I've started my shopping list. I'm bringing supplies for morning drinks - double shots, vanilla vodka, cocoa, and schnapps. What is everyone else planning to bring? Not that the trip is all about drinking or anything....

I need a new monkey avatar. Just how many of us are monkeys on this list. I know I'm most likely the oldest - wait I think Elfreda beats me by 2 months....

Unfortunately, I think the corpulant is way too fitting now days!

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Duchess Liesel the Corpulent of Longer Interval Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

But we get to play with titles in the SCA all the time, I want to be real nobility, the kind that comes with the inherited title, a stately home, and a large income from the government or big rents from the peons.

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Honourable Lady Mary the Fiendish of Much Leering Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

1 more day of school and then no more kiddos for 2 whole weeks!

So I just received my new book in the mail.

The Devil's Sandbox

It's about the experiences of the 2-162 in Iraq. That was my son's brigade, and yes he is mentioned in the book. The book was written by a local historian/author who accompanied the group when they were in New Orleans in 2005. I think he got a lot of his info from the guys there and obviously talked to a small group back here.

Upon receiving the book, I immediately turned to the section on the siege of Najaf as I know Ev was heavily involved. The author is graphic,(extremely realistic language for soldiers) and doesn't pull punches about what was going on (mucho killing, constant sniper attacks, and lots more fun).

So, there I am looking for my little boy's name and I spot it. Not a pleasant read. Who wants to see their child's name followed by the words 'steel eyed killer' Just warms a mommy's heart. They were actually referring to the whole group, but had just described, again in detail, one of Ev's first kills. Lovely. I think we've decided to not tell Evan we purchased or read the book unless he brings it up.

I think this is going to be a very difficult book to read, most likely involving some mommy crying. It's one thing to have a pretty good idea of what went on during the F*&^ng war, but another to actually read it in graphic detail.As much as I was thinking it would be great to have Ev's experiences documented, I think I can appreciate why he didn't want to be involved or interviewed for the book.

I ask you all not to mention it to him unless he brings it up in conversation. Not pleasant memories....

On a lighter note

This might get you in the mood for All Saints Eve, or not.

Gotta love those Victorians.....

http://ame2.asu.edu/projects/haunted/ISA%20index/book%20of%20the%20dead/book%20of%20the%20dead%20photos.htm

I'm sure all those interested in Norse have seen this, but just in case....

http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1488935.ece

It's too early in the am to sing, but not too early to wish you a great birthday!
Have a good one.

For all of you who are interested in the origin of the "How Nerdy Are You" test check out this video at youtube.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=XbVtbc_XzrI

Warning: Avoid if you hate Weird Al

PS: My hsuband could identify with almost every reference in the video!!

My mother used to tell me I was too sassy, but I don't think she meant it in this way.

Your Hair Should Be Red

Passionate, fiery, and sassy. You're a total smart aleck who's got the biggest personality around.

Hey Honey,

I never got your new cell number and your email bounced. Wondering how school is going for you.

Email me if you have time!

To think I started out as a good little catholic girl.....

The Dante's Inferno Test has banished you to the Fifth Level of Hell!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:

Level	Score
Purgatory (Repenting Believers)	Very Low
Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers)	Very Low
Level 2 (Lustful)	High
Level 3 (Gluttonous)	High
Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious)	Low
Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy)	Very High
Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics)	High
Level 7 (Violent)	High
Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers)	Very High
Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous)	Very High

Take the Dante Inferno Hell Test

I believe some of my students would beg to argue that this score is way too low!

You Are 48% Evil

You are evil, but you haven't yet mastered the dark side. Fear not though - you are on your way to world domination.

Of course I didn't fill out the poll real truthfully - what evil person would??

So is anyone else home wondering if the fresh spinach eaten over the last 2 weeks is going to come back to haunt them. I think I've gone through at least 3 bags in that time. So, unfortunately I sit here thinking all my tummy aches and shivers are the start of the great e coli attack. Guess I'm just paranoid. We threw out the remaining 2 bags.

So much for trying to be healthier and get more iron/spinach in my diet.

Sorry if this post disturbs anyone, but..

Have any of you had any experience, or heard of issues with (Gulenay), the Nova-Sure ablation procedure? Won't go into the details here, but it sounds like a good thing for those of us who tend to have difficult times of the month.My doctor recommended it and have started the pretesting.

Jeez, I NEVER would have talked to this guy in high school. Shows what happens when you mix alcohol and a drunk sorority girl!




Well he is a sci fi loving, WOW playing, gamer engineer!

I believe I am more of a nerd/geek enabler than a full fledged member.

My very subdued, tired rant.

I'm tired of hearing about more soldiers being killed overseas - when will this s^*t stop? Certainly don't want my son being sent back over there.Thanks to Bolvrik who offered him a place to stay and a job should Canada ever look more enticing than a trip back to the war zone.

Tired of watching a formerly healthy young squire desperately try to restore his life and use of his muscles - we all take swallowing way to much for granted. He is making fantastic progress, but still has a long way to go - at least another week in the hospital and then weeks of PT.

Tired of spending more time scheduling the day of a lazy assistant than I do on my students.

Tired of parents who want/demand services for their student when the kid doesn't really need them. Let the kid grow up and be independent. Believe in his outstanding abilities, not his disabilities. Some parents are too wrapped up in their kid's disabled identity (was a bit guilty of it myself, but mine survived college just fine once I let go)

Tired of spending 12 hours at work when I get paid for 6, no overtime for teachers - let's hear a big whoop from all you teachers out there who've been putting up with this for years.

Tired of canceling plans to see friends, attend events, and finish projects that I've promised because of above and the fact that I can hardly keep my eyes open when I do get home. It will get done, Emma. I promise!

So to end on a good note - I had a meeting with my principal, my local mentor, my Spec Ed mentor, and my prof yesterday. All said I'm off to a great start, but I have set expectations that may a little too high for myself at this stage of the game. They must have forgotten how obsessive/compulsive I am.

Time to brush the teeth, put on makeup to hide the bags under the eyes and head off to school. Hope you all have a fantastic day at work!

Happy Birthday!

So I get to chaperon the high school dance in a few hours. This should be fun. I think my main job will be preventing freakin' and grinding. I'm sure to be popular. So I volunteered to do this before I realized the dance doesn't even start until 9:30. This old lady has been up since 4AM. Should prove to be interesting.....

On a much brighter note, I just got to view my man, Elvis, on 'The Kumars at #42.' Made my evening. I'm an EC slut - just love the geek. If you've never caught an episode of the Kumars, I suggest it for a good laugh.

I survived my first (1/2) week of school. The kids are not bad, well at least we're still in the honeymoon stage. Boy there are some seriously needy children out there in the world. It breaks my heart. As much as I need to get tons of work done, I feel privleged when former/present students feel connected and come in to talk about how things are going for them. "Research shows" that the more connections disenfranchised kids make, the more likely they are to stay in school. As much as I bitch about work and assistants, I can't think of much I'd rather do. I'm lucky.

Hubby is off to the Emprise where he gets to judge. He's driving up with Ulfred and Elfreda and staying at Dak's. Me, tomorrow I get to do some fun sewing and then come home to dig out the pit that is my house and do homework that is due Monday evening.

That's about all in my boring life.

So as some of you know I started a new career as a special education teacher today. I have been working in alternative education and traded jobs with another teacher. I have been working on my masters degree in special ed all summer, and will continue this year. Today was the first day with students. Since I didn't have to change schools and already knew many of the kids, it really wasn't so bad in the controlling behavior department (knock on wood). But what really pisses me off is having an assistant who is more work than the students. This employee's been moved from job to job and we been saddled with it for the last few years. We all are trying to get rid of it. I have to plan out every fricking minute of it's day and even then I go in to find it surfing the net rather than taking data on students. I am determined to document everything this year and turn it in to the administration!! freeway_diva, you got room for about 450 lbs in that giant hole you keep offering to dig for annoying folks? Rant off. Excuse the extreme unprofessionalism.It's so nice to have somewhere to blow off steam.

I really love my school - never thought I'd say that about high school. Most of the kids are great and I even had some of my old students come tell me they missed me and a give me big hugs. It was heart warming since most of these students are extremely at risk.

After a 12 hour day I decided I really should get home to celebrate my 26th anniversary with my hubby. Not a very exciting night, but nice and relaxing. One glass of wine and I'm ready to go off to bed - so I can get up at 5 am and be ready to go in early tomorrow so I can plan the day for the f'ing jerk I wrote about earlier.

I have one question for you, Miranda - How in the hell do you deal with all this sped paper work???? Facing my first re-evals and IEP meetings in a few weeks. I've sat on the parent side of the table for many years, this is much harder. My hat is off to you, my lady!

If any of you have watched Ace of Cakes or just want to see what's available for your kid's next B-day party, check out this site. It's fantastic and way outta my price range!

www.charmcitycakes.com