For the Nerds...

Anyone need a new backpack for school?

ASPCA Ought to be Ashamed of Itself.

Just saw a commercial by the ASPCA. Now, I'm definitely against beating any creature (or person) and animal cruelty is awful.

BUT....They've gone and copied the feed the children commerical-- .60 cents a day can save a victim of abuse, we will take a picture of one of the pets currently recovering from abuse and send it to you, you can STOP this cruelty.... and we'll also send you a tshirt if you give money. All stated by a young lady with a serious voice and expression.

Okay, it was such a blatent copy of the feed the children commercial that the whole time I was thinking "geesh, this is an absolutely tasteless commercial". Then to throw in the free tshirt- I hate the ploy of sending presents to people who donate. When I donate money i want the highest percentage to actually GET to the people or cause I'm sending money to! I know some goes to overhead expenses, but NONE of it should go to a tshirt. Unless, of course, that tshirt is going to cloth a naked person.

I'm cool with supporting the ASPCA, If that's one of your projects, but they really don't need to juxtapose themselves so closely with saving kids. And they don't need to waste money that could be helping puppies (or starving children) by sending out tshirts.

Oh, the humanity.

Puppy Purse

Yes, this is an actual item on sale. And that's a real live dog there.

My Pomonkey Roadtrip

I've been passing this sign on the way to work every day, and so I decided to do some research on the Pomonkey part. Just because.



Here's what I found on the Global Security site: "Pomonkey is a unique field laboratory with associated platforms and located 25 miles south of NRL near LaPlata, MD. The site occupies approximately 58 acres and is owned by NRL. It contains the largest high-speed tracking antenna in the United States and is suitable for low Earth orbit and deep space mission requirements."

I notice it doesn't really say how large it is. It goes on to mention there are "other antenna in the area 1-9 m"- but I think this one is probably a bit bigger. So, I thougt it'd be good to take a look. I never found the town of Pomonkey- I suspect it's just an area. And the maps indicated it was at the junction of 224 and 227, but there was no indication whatsoever at the turn regarding Pomonkey. Just a sign 3 miles before the turn that said "Pomonkey 3 miles".

So I headed down 210 S to find Smallwood Park. Towns were sparse along the way. I passed Bryan's Road (Mcdonalds, gas station, grocery store and a few strips of stores). I may have seen Indian Head (see Bryan's Road). And then the park signs appeared waaaaaaaay ahead of the game- I thought I was close but it was a good 20 minutes from the first signage.

Smallwood park reminded me of a blank canvas waiting for action. There was a lovely art center that was poorly marked down a very long windy dirt road. There was a great recycled tire playground that had no children playing on it.



There was a tobacco barn with a wonderful color to the wood. One could not enter the barn, though.



There was a house to tour with the very friendly Stephanie (shown here in time period clothing) that once belonged to General Smallwood who is buried out back. He was a Maryland govenor. I think she mentioned General Washington hung out with him, but I was distracted by the chamber pot that looked exactly like a hospital bedside commode, except it was made of wood.



There's even a story regarding a chestnut being thrown into a grave and growing a tree over the general's grave. But, to be truthful, in the picture there's a gravestone (not there originally) and apparently the folks CUT DOWN the tree to put up the gravestone. The trees in this picture are cedars that are mostly dead on the other side. Should have left the chestnut tree!



There was just nobody there to see it! I saw a smattering of people using the marina, one very small 3 person family who briefly walked into the house then walked out, and a person was driving up the art center as I left. The women at the art center told me things are usualy pretty quiet. "Some days I might go all day without seeing anyone". It was a great little park! Obviously the locals don't realize the great secret they have on their hands!

Stephanie told me the road to go down to glimpse at the Pomonkey disk, so I gave it another go. I followed 224 N and took a right on Bumpy Hills Road. As I came over the hill, I saw a largish satillite dish in the distance but could not pull over to take a picture. I kept going down the road hoping for another glimpse, but alas there was to be no glimpses of the elusive Pomonkey satillite dish. I did manage to snap a picture of the research facility sign, but there was plenty of signage indicating I should not drive further down the driveway.



I tried to turn myself around and do a loop to see if I could get another glimpse, but it was getting late and I took a wrong turn. Just as I was planning to look at a map to figure my way, boom, there was 301. Home sweet home- my wrong turn spilled me out about 10 minutes from my house.

Why?

Someone please tell me why it's important for me and everyone else to know that Karr ate pate, fried prawns (can't they just say shrimp???) and drank bubbly? Why? So they were trying to get him to talk-- why is this important news???? So important that I practically have the menu memorized and I haven't even been watching a great deal of news????? RRRRRRRRRR! Media.

Planned Tour

It's been intriging me for the last 2.5 months-- the sign on the way to work that points to a town or area called Pomonkey. Tomorrow, I shall follow the signage. Stay tuned.

Book Tag

Thanks to Ayzair, I've been tagged. Here goes:

1. One book that changed your life?

Brownie Girl Scout Guide-- it had a pledge, a song, and the ASL alphabet. I wanted to work with the deaf ever since I memorized the ASL alphabet in 2nd grade. Then when I was 13 dad talked me into shadowing Dr. Melvin at the VA in Columbia. That's when I decided on Speech Language Pathology instead of deaf education. I still use the sign alphabet and other gestures to support the receptive/expressive language of kids and adults I work with. It made me realize that communication is not just talking, it's being together, working for a cause, and occasionally involves hand gestures.

2. One book you have read more than once?

DragonSinger by Anne McCaffrey. Actually I've read the entire dragonrider series more times than I can count, but the only book I've had to replace 3 times is DragonSinger (wore out one, lent one out and never got it back, drowned one in my car last year and now it's the only fiction I carry with me on my journeys. It's like a security blanket.)

3. One book you would want on a desert island?

Whatever book the professor was using to make all that cool stuff on Gilligan's Isle.


4. One book that made you laugh?

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Better read out loud for maximum giggles.


5. One book that made you cry?

The first book that I remember crying over was Good Night Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian. GNMT was about a small abused child sent out into the country side during WWII who befriends his host. A major character dies just when life gets good for this kid, and I remember bawling like crazy. Others include Jacob Have I Loved and The Lottery Rose. All good tear jerkers.

6. One book you wish had been written?

How to find a husbad you can love until you're 93 years old. Yes, yes, I know there are many books out there, but I need a definitive book on this topic!

7. One book you wish had never been written?

Ohhh, there are a few. Many of them on the reading list during middle and high school. Can't pick one. Won't pick any, because I'm sure I'll upset some of the literary folks if I name any.

8. One book you are currently reading?

Re-reading Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Reading The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks- great book about neurological case studies including a women who had a focal stroke and woke up hearing Irish music. From her own head. Sort of like an Irish tinnitus. And I'm currently listening to Zorro by Isabel Allende (book on CD).

9. One book you have been meaning to read?

The Bible. Yes, I read parts here and there, but I've been meaning to read it cover to cover. Tried about 10 years ago and got stuck in the old testament. I've read the entire new testament already but really should read the entire thing.

10. Now tag five people.

I think everyone's been hit, but we'll see. If you haven't been hit, then ams needs to be tagged. Adrienne, you need to get a blog just for this reason! So you can be tagged!

Chartreuse

What is it? A very evil green liquor that tastes like a Yankee candle would taste if you ever wanted to drink one. It's made by monks, which I find to be very ironic due to the intoxicating effects.

What's in it? Only 2 monks know. There's a vague ingredient list on the website: alcohol, sugar, 130 plants and flowers.

Where to find it? Well, there's this cool little bar a block from my friend's house on the corner of Fort and William's street in Baltimore. They have it and like to sell it as a shot. I had it on the rocks sipped slowly over several hours.

What does it make you do? Apparently, 2 shots of it are enough to make you black out and not remember whole segments of the night. Luckily, I found this out with a friend and the bits I don't remember include singing loudly along to the RENT DVD we decided to watch after the bar closed down at 2;30am, going upstairs to bed, putting my necklace in the side pouch of my bag, and putting my license and visa card in my wallet (but in the wrong department so there was a frantic search the next morning). I do remember returning downstairs to get my pillow and being irritated that Lisa didn't tell me to take it up with me.

The next morning, Lisa informed me she had left me sleeping on the rug downstairs, and I fell asleep halfway through RENT, though I only remember 1/2 the first song. I don't even think I made it to the flaming balcony scene, but apparently I was singing in my sleep all the way to the Life Support scene.

Bad liquor. Evil liquor. C'mon, 2 shots??? It was on top of 3 glasses of wine, but 2 of those were with dinner HOURS before we landed in the bar.

At least I didn't hook up with Mike, the very friendly guy sitting next to me. At least I don't think I hooked up with him. Nope, Lisa confirmed it, I rudely ignored all advances by him and his scary looking friend. My common sense beat out the Chartreuse. Go common sense! Boo Chartreuse!

Anyone else ever try this stuff? Do share.

2 hours of sleep

I slept 2 hours last night. I pondered deeply my decision and finally decided the logistics of Colorado do not work for me right now. Housing was a huge issue-- no short term leases where I needed one. Big problem when there's no place to live!

So I've said yes to Goochland Virginia-- pronounced /goosh lend/

We are debating start dates, but John's wedding is firmly in the contract in the form of a scheduled day off.

So now I have to pull together a Virginia SLP license and a Virginia SLP teacher certification. We shall see!

Interviews

Both interviews went well. They both offered me a position.

Ridgway, Colorado: I'd start Sept 25-->Dec. 22
How will I get to John's wedding Dec. 17?
How will I get home for Christmas?
What are the driving conditions? I'll be working in a small town called Norwood colorado and it's at the bottom of a mountain (box canyan). I've been told snow isn't a problem down at the bottom, but it's hard to get to Ridgway where I'll have to report quite frequently. I'd have to get snow tires. What am I going to do with snow tires??? There also doesn't appear to be any place to live down there. I found a place that offers monthly rental, but only from Dec-->march. The logistics of this decision are a bit harder once I sit and think about it. I'd be the lone SLP in the area. They haven't had one since Dec of last year, so I'd have to do some "damage control".

Goochland, Virginia-- not really a town. Sept 25-->Dec 22 though I may be able to start a half week earlier and end a half week earlier so I can drive down for the wedding. I could make the trip in one long driving day. It's located between Charlottesville and Richmond Virginia. I'd have 2 mentors in the speech department and would be the "baby". IEPs are already completed-- I'd pretty much be coming in and just being a therapist.

I've been up since 4:30am this morning. Thinking. Actually, trying to get to sleep again, but ending up very much thinking. Now I'm typing the thoughts out. I don't know what to do.

Colorado would be such an adventure. And the mountains with snow-- that's something I'd like to see. But the logistics. They arn't small towns- they are TINY towns. Population in the largest is under 600. Norwood is under 500 people. No walmart, I wouldl think! They aren't used to outsiders and don't have things set up for a short term person coming in. I've worked in hospitals that have more beds than these towns have people.

Virginia would give me a cushy and supportive entrance to School SLPing. I've never worked in a school system before and the extra support would probably help me get my feet faster. It's nearer to home and civilization. There's a gym.

I'm calling the chamber of commerce in Norwood tomorrow for some of the answers regarding driving conditions and places to live. And I'm calling Virginia to see if it's too late to get licensed. Colorado needs no license for SLPs.

Dang. It's almost time for my alarm to go off. It's going to be a loooooooonnnnnnggggg day.

Interviews

My Rep Julie is putting in for 2 interviews right now for me. They are:

Goochland, VA and Ridgway, CO

She keeps trying to stick me in small towns! The pictures from Ridgway are almost worth the 36 hour drive to get there. I might just have to visit southern Colorado if I don't end up traveling there on my job!

Of course, having a mailing address in Goochland may be worth it just for the laughs. It's on the road between charlottesville and Richmond, and is quite small. Also pretty area.

We'll see if either pans out. I was never expecting to land in La Plata, but it's not been awful. Not as fun as the big city, but I've been productive with my time.

I'm kind of wondering what it would be like in Colorado. The cool thiing is, by working in the school system, I'm guaranteed time off around Christmas. I'll be home for Christmas, that was one of my goals for this year. Thanksgiving is screwed though.

Other positions

Apparently, schools are desperate. Greenville was wrong- she meant greenWOOD sc, which is much different. So no Greenville :-( it was my first choice just so I could annoy Peggy during morning sickness.

Here's the list:

Here are some other school based opportunities..

Union, SC
N. Scituate, RI
N. Scituate, RI
Bronxville, NY
Dover, DE
Rome, GA
Stuart , FL
Ridgway, CO
Newnan, GA
Buckner, KY
Machipongo, VA
Winchester, VA
Manassas, VA
Waterboro, ME
North Berwick, ME
Richmond, VA
Newport News, VA
Elizabeth City , NC
Winston-Salem , NC
Beaufort, SC
Memphis , TN

I'll rank them later...