Another Random Treasure From an Unrelated Internet Search

Check this out...here are free online yoga classes, with videos. Looks like it could be a wonderful resource!

http://www.anmolmehta.com/blog/classes-online/

Taking a Little Break

I think I am going to take a little break from online (and phone) communication, including blogging for a week or two.

For one thing, I am not getting enough done this summer and need to minimize distractions. Also, I have a disturbing communication pattern recently in which I seem to be unintentionally offending others, and I'd hate to see this impacting my relationships unecessarily.

I am not sure what is causing this pattern (When I read over the things I am writing, I am often confused by how it is being "heard." That wouldn't be unusual for someone on the neurologically divergent side like myself, as social relationships are a challenge and a source of anxiety and misunderstanding due to differing perspectives and approaches and actual purposes for communication.). But it seems to be another one of those blips in my usual patterns and relationships, so I am going to assume for now that it is temporary and that it may be diminished by the time I begin posting again.

I hope you will stay tuned and rejoin me in early or mid-August for more adventures.

Neighborhood Walkability

Thanks to my lovely mother for introducing me to http://www.walkscore.com/. On first glance, there seem to be a number of useful applications for such a website, including:

• Gain some perspective on your neighborhood in the grand scheme of walkability
• Find out the truth about places you want to live
• Find great places to live if your options are open
• Look for a good score to help your market your home when selling
• Get assistance in evaluating a potential neighborhood when considering a new purchase or rental
• Find out about treasures you can walk to in your neighborhood that you may not know about or may have overlooked
• Enjoy some photos and/or reviews of familiar locations
• Write your own reviews of locations in your neighborhood (just remember you have to confirm your email after registering before you can write a review)
• Get tips to help you advocate for greater walkability where you live
• Read "how it doesn't work" for an honest assessment of the website's own limitations, and ideas for other walkability considerations you might want to make
• Read a blog of interest

Want to Understand the "Oil Crisis" Better?

This is fascinating. I found this link by listening to today's radio show on "Science Friday.". This link is to an educational seminar for journalists on asking helpful questions about oil.

You'll first need to click HERE for the Powerpoint presentation for the seminar to follow along. Then click HERE to hear the seminar.

The seminar is either an hour or an hour and a half long, but likely very useful if you are interested in being an informed citizen, voter, and consumer. If you can't manage to make time for it, though, hopefully today's Science Friday broadcast will eventually be posted online.

Candidates Flip Flopping?

Of course both these videos are highly biased and ridiculously one-sided, but yeah, this is what is out there floating, and I do think it is important to be clear when folks are being incorrectly or correctly charged with being inconsistent.

Sprint to Closing

It may be another week or two before I post anything good. I hope that won't prevent any of my six readers ;-) from coming back.

We are in the homestretch, the sprint to closing on our new house. Closing will happen Monday, and then we will take slightly less than two weeks for our move. It still feels uncertain. I am not sure whether that is because we are in a different state and the process is so unfamiliar, or if it is because of how the mortgage industry is right now, or because of all the trouble this purchase has been so far (a CONSTANT negotiation) or what. But I will believe it when those keys are in my hand.

If you looked around our house, you'd have NO idea we are moving.

Nonetheless, we're hammering in the final nails. Our attorney is working out some detail on the mortgage commitment letter with our lender. We have a tentative final walk-through time scheduled with our real estate agent. Our landlord has been showing our rental house like crazy, and we've been trying to stay out of her way. I am working on our homeowner's insurance application.

Keep your fingers crossed for us!

Edited to add:

How bad is old knob and tube wiring in an electrical system? Apparently, VERY bad. A few hours after posting the above, it began to complicate our lives a great deal-- particularly in getting home owner's insurance-- even though this wiring is a relatively small amount of the wiring in the house. Will this slow or stop our sprint to closing? Or cost of a couple thousand dollars we don't have? Maybe. Please continue to keep your fingers crossed for us. As it turns out, I was right on in having a sense of caution.

Now I Will Tag...

Once I take a nap (just took a dose of my meds and am falling asleep here), I will tag:

The Learning Umbrella

Ms. Kitty's Saloon and Road Show

Monkey Mind

Rainbow Mama

PeaceBang

And while I am posting, can I ask this? I love to garage sale but am so bad at finding a good deal. One of my goals for next year is to significantly reduce the amount I am driving. I may have even found a bike trailer to hitch on for the kids through Freecycle. My problem is that I need a bike. G. has a bike, but it is too small for me. I don't have money for a bike, however, and am thinking Craiglist or Freecycle are going to be my best bets. Yet, looking on the central Mass. Craigslist, I got totally overwhelmed. Can anyone help me keep an eye out for a good bike on that list? Or at least tell me how to choose a bike: how do I know what size I need, etc?

Two Questions

1. How do I make my text also a link? For example, in the book list below, how can I make the titles into the clickable links below them (so the list isn't quite soooooooo long)?

2. Recently, a comment has been posted and then deleted by its author. Twice. And I find it strangely disconcerting (rightly or wrongly). It just nags at me. In neither case has there been any follow-up, like a comment following saying something like "sorry, I double-posted, so am deleting the original." A deletion on the basis of a double-post is not disconcerting, but I have no way to know if this is the reason for these deletions. If you have posted and deleted, can you let me know if this is the reason?

I admit, this may be my neurotic tendencies talking. I love comments. I really, really love them. And I really appreciate those who take the time to write a comment, even if brief. So in no way do I mean this to come off as discouragement for anyone leaving me comments. Please continue to do so, and let me know if you need to delete anything.

Shout-Outs

You may have noticed I don't have any links, including links to other blogs, on the sidebar of this blog. Long story...but it is an OCD thing.

Anyway, it seems I at least ought to periodically post some shout-outs to those folks with whom I am keeping in touch. So here is what is up with some of the folks "in the neighborhood."

• My friend Sara introduced me to "flat traveling," an idea with which I immediately fell in love. Check it out: http://learningumbrella.homeschooljournal.net/2008/05/29/flat-traveling/ Turns out, though, it can be a bit of a disappointment in practice if you don't do it with folks you know who actually follow-through. So basically I've decided I need to secure myself a pal for my kidos in each state and elsewhere around the globe...sometime in the next couple of years ;-). Good thing my kids aren't quite old enough for this yet. It's bought me a little time LOL.

• Quinn from one of my parenting boards is worrying about her body, which makes me think of my little girl and whether she'll worry about her body too. Still, it is a big struggle I can relate to and I appreciate Quinn's honesty: http://rainbowmamajourney.blogspot.com/2008/05/i-am-not-beautiful.html

• My mom is introducing me to some fun animation set to music at http://ragtagsf.blogspot.com/. I never got into animation much, but this stuff is beautiful and interesting, and yes, appeals to me.

• The Rev. Ford passed on this artistic depiction of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: http://monkeymindonline.blogspot.com/2008/05/universal-declaration-of-human-rights.html (advance notice: this declaration has thirty articles, so the video is about twenty minutes, but visually really interesting...I'd be interested in seeing artistic spin-offs of any type)

• The Rev. Ketchem is thinking about science and religion: http://mskittyssaloonandroadshow.blogspot.com/2008/05/importance-of-science-to-unitarian.html. I'm looking forward to when she posts her sermon because I love both science and religion, and I too find them closely intertwined in my life.

• The Rev. Ms. Peacebang is doing those new to ordained ministry a great service by sharing more good tips, this time on graveside services: http://www.peacebang.com/2008/05/29/graveside-ceremony/. It's actually an interesting read for *anyone* who might be attending a graveside service and is not experienced in such services. She also posted a book recommendation that sounds really interesting: http://www.peacebang.com/2008/05/29/practicing-resurrection-a-peacebang-review/. Good thing I've been slow to finalize my 8 x 8 in 08 list ;-). Oh yes, and on her other blog, Beauty Tips For Ministers, she is offering a worthwhile reminder universal to any human being to periodically update one's underwear rather than wearing it ragedy ol' andy like I have been lately: http://beautytipsforministers.com/2008/05/25/a-festival-of-inappropriate-sharing-at-the-festival-of-homiletics/

• I continue to pray for Little Warrior. The latest update is here: http://uuminister.blogspot.com/2008/05/just-update.html. I'm also trying to incorporate love through action into my life, and hope to be writing Lizard Eater with some stories soon: http://www.lovethroughaction.blogspot.com/. I encourage you to join me, even if you have no idea who this little kido is. Here is the short story at the top of the blog: "Little Warrior is my daughter. She's almost three and she's fighting cancer for the second time. Friends far and near have asked what they can do. We said, 'Show love through action.' Do a good deed, then let us know. We'll compile these in a book for Little Warrior to show her how love for her made the world a better place." If you want to better understand the idea you can check out: http://uuminister.blogspot.com/2008/05/what-you-can-do.html. Finally, I highly recommend you check out Little Warrior's "Happy Birthday" video. What a cutie: http://lovethroughaction.blogspot.com/2008/05/happy-third-birthday-little-warrior.html

And lastly, some "posting anytime soon?" shout-outs:

• My oldest sister hasn't posted for a little while, probably busy with the end of the school year and travel to VT and all. Last I heard, she was promising tips on moving. In the meantime, if you haven't visited her site (at least not recently), check out her new project, a rainbarrel: http://awfulbrothers.blogspot.com/2008/05/say-say-oh-playmate.html.

• My "little" brother (http://www.sunthroughleaves.blogspot.com/) and his wife (http://www.chickadeescout.blogspot.com/) are probably doing the newlywed bliss/lovebird hide-away time, or maybe they are traveling (I never did ask them about post-wedding plans), but before the wedding my brother did post some thought-provoking conversation starters on polar bears, government, and responsibility. And his wife-- also before the wedding, of course-- has been posting some great photos including of some delicious looking food she and my bro have whipped up and some of the plants in their lives.

• My nephew is apparently too busy learning how to use "the force" lately to post on his blog, but he's a cutie so here's my little auntie brag: http://amazingadventuresofdante.blogspot.com/2008/04/force.html

• My dad is a "weekend poster" and seems to have been too busy with the wedding and related travel, work crunches, etc. to have posted too recently, but I really, really appreciated his post on what a college education should be about: http://colin-quodlibet.blogspot.com/2008/05/what-to-learn-in-college.html. By the way, I heard a piece on NPR about a book discussing and critiquing universities as businesses as much as educational institutions, etc. Sounded interesting.

Lost Videos

So I discovered after my last post (which I wrote over several weeks before posting), that all videos by Christschool have been taken off You Tube by Christschool himself. I don't know what happened, but I know for a very long time that he has taken a lot of grief from You Tube users who hurl insults for entertainment.

In any case, I am so saddened by the loss of his videos, which were a major piece of my writings below. I do hope that you can perhaps get some idea of what the videos were about by the context of my posts. But after all the time I have put into this, I admit that this is a huge let down.

So sad.

I'm Baaaaaack!

Well, you've been on my mind. I can't just let this one go...not another blog ditched just a few months in. No, I'm sticking with it this time.



I'm ready to talk about neurological diversity,
what my kids are up to,
adoption reform,
my family's continuing struggle to finish our move to New England,
why the average Unitarian Universalist is UU for just five years,
the debate over charter schools and my effort to start one,
why my homestudy has gone haywire,
what makes a congregation really welcoming,
the Mother Theresa book,
why I think the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine should start apologizing to the public because of a man named Kurt Tyson,
my February trip to New Orleans for hurricane recovery,
compost for beginners,
city planning,
my search for friends in my new state,
and anything I've heard about on NPR at any moment.



But I'll start with just the cutest little story about Baby M, who is not technically a baby, but in fact turning three in April (I really just cannot wrap my head around that one).


So I've been asking M what kind of a birthday party he is going to have.


The other day, he finally answered me. He said, "a surprise party."


This really got me cracking up. My mom sent a copy of Miss Spider's ABC book a while back (http://www.amazon.com/Miss-Spiders-Abc-Book-Spider/dp/0590282794/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201316456&sr=8-1).


It has all these little bugs getting ready for a party...and then on the second to last page it is dark. All you can see are the bugs eyes, and it says "sshhhhhhh..." and then you turn to the last page and it says "Surprise! Happy birthday Miss Spider!" My little M loooooooves that book (his favorite page is M: Moths Mingle).

Hit the Pause Button

...I will have limited internet access through around September 3rd, so definitely post to me if you have a name suggestion, but you may not hear much from me until September.

http://becausethatiswhatmylifeislikerightnow.blogspot.com/2007/08/you-might-be-wondering-where-i-have.html

Changing My "Name"

I've decided to change my "name" here. I picked out the name "the procrastinator" when I first started this blog. I figured if I was on blogging, I was probably going to be doing so because I was avoiding household chores. I was thinking a lot about procrastination at that time because I was in the middle of moving, and well, who likes moving?! I would rather do anything than move. Even with hiring a moving company to get us packed up this time around, I still found that there were plenty of "to do" list items associated with the move. So yes, I admit that procrastination was a big theme at the time I started this blog.

When I first selected the name, G asked if that was really the image I wanted to put out there. I shrugged it off at the time, but on second thought, she is right. So watch for a new name...coming soon (suggestions welcome!!).

You Might Be Wondering Where I Have Gone

...It's a good question!

Life got frantic as the move approached. I have now made the big move, but will have limited internet access for some time. You can definitely expect to see lots and lots of posting from me after September 3rd or so, when my new laptop arrives (picture below). I do hope I won't lose you if you are with me, and that you will check back around that time.

Love,

The Procrastinator

Completing Sunday with a faith-related post

I stumbled across this blog entry the other day while searching for blogging samples: http://thehanifblog.blogspot.com/2007/08/problem-with-sociological-identity.html

I am curious what those of you who are fellow Unitarian Universalists think about this. It is definitely food for thought, and I haven't yet really fully developed my thoughts about it, but some of the things that came to mind off hand include:

1. The UUA just redesigned its website and is focusing its online material more on those new to the faith. I have noticed some content changes, and I am curious whether the quoted description of the faith is likely to change as well. A change would be consistent with some of the self-study work the UUA has been up to over the last few years. There certainly has been a movement toward greater assumption of the language of faith.

2. I'm not sure if this is any kind of official description, or if it is more a haphazard description that happened to be a visible one on the UUA website. However, it does seem indicative of the lack of clarity inherent in this stage of Unitarian Universalism's history.

This post led me to another discussion of related interest: http://thehanifblog.blogspot.com/2007/07/inclusiveness.html and http://thehanifblog.blogspot.com/2007/07/ia-umbrella.html and http://chalicechick.blogspot.com/2007/07/organization-by-any-other-name.html

My thought is that these conversations have a core issue in common: our clarity of faith. As a faith made up of 90% "converts," I think collectively we are afraid to be clear because it brings up faith-related baggage. The worry seems to be summed up like this "If we clear about who we are, will we somehow end up leaving people out?" As a lifelong UU, I have witnessed plenty of the UUs I grew up with leaving our faith because of the lack of clarity. I am thankful for the self-study happening now among UUs for this exact reason. I think we lose as many folks from our lack of clarity as we might risk losing from a greater degree of clarity about who we are as a people of faith.

Am I making any sense? It is late, so this may be difficult to follow.