Crumpled straw hat with feather (man's?)

There's nothing to make you appreciate a Saturday (or any day off), like working during the 5 days before. When I am not working, I find Saturdays very depressing, unless I do something fun. But today, I'm really enjoying it.

Ray and I went to the Green Life Expo at the Classic Center, saw a lot of people we knew, and actually were encouraged by some of the exhibits there! I volunteered at the WUGA booth, where they were selling used CDs (and some DVD's and videotapes) to raise money for the radio. It is also, of course, a form of recycling. I won't tell you how much we spent, but we found a lot of great buys! Books on tape, music for my parents, even a copy of An Affair to Remember... The most fun was a free pedicab ride to Harry Bissett's, where we met Captain & Vanessa for a very good lunch, including free desserts.

Our waitress turned out to be from Alaska, a full-blooded Shawnee. This is the kind of thing my father finds out by asking (sometimes embarrassing) questions. She is studying wildlife biology at UGA and hopes to work at Denali. Needless to say, she dislikes the summers here intensely. She also was not very complimentary about the Inuit... Interestingly, she did not look at all Native American to me. Maybe a little more cheekbone than some people. But she had a really unusual accent. To me, she sounded a little bit Irish, and maybe a little bit like Sarah Palin or someone from Minnesota. She said it is because she learned English in school. When she is home she speaks Algonquin. I love the idea of a Shawnee from Alaska working in a Cajun restaurant in Athens.

Yesterday I found out the good news (I will be getting paid $.65 an essay, as an "experienced" rater) and the bad news (well, sort of). The project after this one is from March 11-April 9. So, if I finish this one successfully and if they ask me to work for the next one and if I pass the test to qualify (all very likely), then I have to decide if I want to ask to miss any days to go to the beach. And then be willing to accept it if they say no. I am really glad to have this work and have to make what I earn go as far as possible. It's just too bad that this is happening when I actually have work to do, instead of all the times I could go for as long as I wanted! But I am lucky to be able to go to the beach for even two or three nights.

I was turning over the idea of a book that compares and contrasts Casey in Japan and Molli in Mexico...and the larger thought about the future of the world when so many more "children" are making connections in other countries...a good think, I am convinced. But hard for them in some ways. I don't know if it would be non-fiction (requiring research work?) or fiction (requiring creativity??).

Dan Bashara and I were talking. We had to admit to being grateful for being under-employed. Every day, I say to myself, "that's $60 or that's $80. Pretty soon, I will have paid for one night at the beach!" I am trying to be a little less compulsive this time, not really keeping track of how many essays I am rating per hour, just focusing on each one as I do it. This is a hard thing for me, like meditating. I am constantly drifting off into thinking about what I need to do for dinner...or something else. Then I have to go back and re-read the essay, which cuts down on my productivity.

This is a funny little black velvet sort of beret, with a black cube on top. (The label reads Adolfo.) You would probably need a hat pin to make it stay on. There are some in some of the hats.

Very exciting! I passed the test to score essays--yay! Now I am employed for the month of February. In order to make more than $10/hour, you have to read and accurately rate 20 essays! There is a lot of psychology to making your decision (is this a 2 or a 3?) and being confident that it is right, but still being fair to the student (eighth graders) and maintaining the standards taught in the training. It is not easy, but I like it a LOT better than telemarketing. I come and go when I want, since it is piece work. We are expected to work at least 6 hours a day, but can come early or late, take a long or short lunch, etc. And wear comfortable clothes. My neck and shoulders suffer a little, but that could be the time spent in the mornings on the computer!! I have to maintain a good attitude and not get stressed by it, or the other things that I am not doing because I am working.

The Captain and Ray both have the cold now. I hope Mom and I don't get it!

Colder than I expected last night, just about freezing. I think I may have left the heat turned up, but that means it's not too cold in the house this morning.

Admittedly, this is not really a hat, but a fur collar.

Today I take the test to see if I qualify for scoring 8th grade essays. I started training on Monday and I thought it might be easier this time. My accuracy is hovering around 50% now and I need 60 or 70 to pass. I can take the test twice. I have a few more practice essays to score first. If I pass, I can start grading about noon and switch from $10/hr to $.55/essay. I struggle with trying to figure out how to match my ratings to the expectations of the training. Yesterday I decided it was like the force in Star Wars--trust the force, Patty! You can't do it completely scientifically. You have to feel if the essay is a 3 or a 4, based on a score of 1-5.

Weather here is warmer, but foggy, misty, drizzly, cloudy. Ray turned up the heat this morning because it was not quite warm enough in the house...and I hadn't started a fire.

Captain's seedlings are coming up--boy choy and other cabbages now.

Class last night was a little less stressful. It is interesting. I enjoy the camaraderie. I feel very behind, not knowing anything about the field of instructional technology, since this is my first course.

Charleston courtyard

Ray was in bed most of the morning. I had wanted to go to the Scottish festival, but didn't want to drive there by myself; it didn't seem like it was worth the gas. Instead I made some soup for him and a sick neighbor, and started some homemade bread as well. In the afternoon, my parents wanted to go see a ballroom dancing performance. I would have enjoyed it, but didn't want to pay the $10 for it. I didn't want them driving there alone, trying to find the building, etc. So I drove them, then went to the Scottish heritage festival. It was about over, so I had time to go to Kroger and get some groceries and then pick them up. By the time we went home, it was sunny out. Captain planted some more seeds in a flat (broccoli, cabbage) and I made supper. Ray got up and ate and we watched The Bucket List on our TV, thanks to 3 free months of HBO. I thought it was a great movie.

I was a little sad yesterday as I realized I wouldn't be spending time at Athens Land Trust again for a while. Monday I start scoring essays. Training for five days at $10/hr before the real thing, which pays $.55/essay. I am excited to actually get a paycheck again, and the work is not so terrible. It's just that there are things I am better at and enjoy more and could get paid more for! I try to keep convincing myself that everything is for the best, and the perfect opportunity/next career will open up soon!

Ray has come down with another ferocious cold and spent most of his time in bed yesterday. When I am sick, I want people to wait on me and pamper me. He just wants to be left alone.

Rain here this morning, so no outdoor work today. The Captain has a bonfire laid outside, which he will light if he can get it going. He prefers it to start raining during the day, so he can light it as the rain starts. It may have trouble catching once the rain is really coming down!

We have had a lot more really cold weather than we usually do here, although this morning it is above 50. We have had the solar water heater turned off and drained for more than two weeks! We will probably turn it back on today.

Baby onions and lettuce are coming up in a flat Captain set up in the living room. It wasn't doing well in the breezeway--just too cold. Our seed order has come in and it is time to start planting--peas for sure, maybe some spinach as well. Which reminds me, we are still eating spinach from the garden, had a big mess last night and it was good. So much work to clean. Mom and Dad both were pretty energetic yesterday. He cut up almost all the winter squashes that were in the basement for us to cook and freeze, as well as harvesting the spinach, which Mommy mostly cleaned and trimmed, with a little help from me.

I love these old buildings in Charleston, near the aquarium, and the morning light.

worked at ALT 4 hours yesterday, mailing cards, working on flyers for homebuyer counseling, talking with Cathi about the challenges. Raquetball in the morning, yoga in the afternoon. Went to Clarke Co. Democratic Committee in the evening with Ray. Came home and dinner was all ready for us! Watched John Stewart. Now that we have recording capability, can watch it when it's convenient and skip commercials! Fun! Everyone is enjoying the Sarah Graves mysteries, so we can compare notes about them. Warming up a little, soon back to gardening. Captain moved seedlings into the house, since it was not warm enough for them in the breezeway. We have had the solar water heater off for two weeks, due to freezing weather every night.

Charleston bridge

hmm, how quickly I have lost the habit of daily posts!!

Let's see, Tuesday we left early because it is Mom's yoga day and Ray and I dropped her off at 8 after a breakfast of oatmeal and trying to make sure we have everything we need for raquetball, which we played. Then I went to the Land Trust and made myself useful, getting a printer to work with a computer and printing off some mailing labels. They had all left the office by about 11 to go watch the inauguration, so I did likewise, heading home to watch with my parents. Had Usinger's hot dogs in front of the TV. Pretty moving stuff--people as far as you could see. Although they looked like pretty cold people, and I didn't really wish I was standing there for hours with all of them. I thought everything was done well and now I am waiting to see if he can really change things and how quickly.

Tuesday afternoon I realized I had to do my assignment for class...and I had to sit in front of the computer from 5 to 7:45! This would definitely interfere with any other plans I might have, like making and eating dinner or going to join the inaugural celebrations downtown. In fact, about 4 I submitted my (inadequate) assignment and drove quickly to Ray 's office to pick him up, hoping I would be back by 5. I was here by 5:15, but I had cleverly signed in to the virtual classroom before I left, so it looked like I was the first one there! I had some audio problems, so missed about 45 minutes of class, which I will recapture from the archive soon.

Yesterday I also volunteered at ALT, for several hours, mailing postcards and calling people signed up for the housing counseling class. Last night was potluck and choir rehearsal--fun!

veil with little birds - I can't imagine where I would wear this--to a funeral?

Well, it is MLK Day. As an unemployed person, I do not have the same joy as others to have a day off, but it is nice to have my husband home for the day. Yesterday, we went to the service at the Fellowship and there was a lot of excitement about the coming inauguration and linkages made between MLK and Obama. These are indeed exhiliarating times. I hope we can live up to them.

Too cold for much outdoor work, although the sun did come out a little in the afternoon. I brought some more firewood up to the porch and uncovered the lettuce and spinach. The four of us played, "Oh, Hell," our favorite card game for four. Mom and Ray and I went to the movies ($2 theater). We enjoyed the second Daniel Craig as James Bond movie, although Mom had a little trouble following it. It was not as sad as the first one. I really enjoyed the photography and high quality effects.

Still feels like winter.

I am glad to be home in Athens, sleep in my own bed and watch my own TV shows. The drive back went well; it was just long. We did stop briefly at A. H. Stephens state park in Crawfordville. Taliaferro County is the poorest in the state, I believe, and it did not look like a place I would want to live! But the park looked nice. The bathrooms were unlocked, for which we were grateful, even though there did not appear to be any campers or other activity. Looks like a place to come back to when it's warm--paddleboats on a pond. The ducks made a beeline for us as soon as we got out of the car--one male (mallard, I think) and his harem of 5 or more females. One, in particular, was quacking loudly. I think maybe they have been fed before...

We visited the aquarium in Charleston. Very nice in a lot of ways, especially good for kids. Not crowded at 9:30 am on a cold Saturday, although filling up as we left. $17 is a little steep, though. Mom and Dad waited at a coffee shop while we went. They had been standing in line to get off the boat with their luggage for quite a while and did not want to walk any more. They had a lot of stories and so on about their trip, but naturally did not bring enough warm clothes for the last couple of days. Lots of good food and pretty good entertainment. They danced a couple of times...

Lara from Doctor Zhivago--it looked better on her!

Writing from a La Quinta in North Charleston, thanks to the magic of free wireless internet! And this at a motel that only cost $44! Booked on line yesterday or the day before. The cheapest thing I found, by far. Free breakfast, clean, good beds. What more could you ask for? Well, it is 20 minutes from Charleston, where we need to be at 8 am. The heat cycles on and off all the time, noisily, but it is warm in the room. Disposable styrofoam cups for water or coffee--note to self, bring cups when travelling. I have a collapsible one somewhere. Room is relatively spacious, with a table and chairs, as well as the two double beds. Free HBO too.

My skin is dry and itchy, because of the really cold weather we are having. Eighteen degrees right now (in Athens--23 here). I remember now, this used to happen to me when I lived in a colder climate. It's rarer here in the South. Mustn't scratch...

white fur hat with brim (faux)

warm and stylish! A few years ago...

Potluck supper at UUFA and choir practice last night. I enjoyed the fellowship. I fell asleep on the way home--fortunately Ray was driving me! He also packed the wood stove so it would be warm enough this morning when I got up! Now we will head out for racquetball and I will go to the Athens Land Trust and call some banks to ask them to help support the housing counseling classes that start tonight. And I need to remember to stop at the grocery store on my way home, so I can make my Spinach Mushroom Lasagna. Tonight? More Firefly!

fake fur hat with attached scarf - warm and cozy

OK, it's not really this cold in the house, but it is 25 out--pretty darn cold for Georgia. Ray is going to start the fire and warm it up in here. The sun is just coming up and it will take a while for it to heat up the house.

After much trouble, I have downloaded Open Office so I can access my files for my on line course. It's pretty neat when it works right. There are no textbooks--just click on the link for the assignment and the paper shows up on the screen. Very cool, but I am not sure how much time I want to spend reading the screen of my computer. Alternatively, I could print it out, but that is not being a very good steward of the Earth's resources! We'll see how it goes. Aside from reading, I have to come up with my own definitions of instruction and technology...and create a power point presentation of them, by next week. I think I will be able to do that.

I enjoyed meeting the other students last night. I am probably the oldest person in the class, but they are not all 20-somethings either, so that is reassuring. I had to head to the UUFA board meeting at 7 and miss the last part of the first class (and only face-to-face class). They were planning to create groups of people to work with all semester. So I don't know if I'm in a group and who they are... we did all get to introduce ourselves a little bit. I hated to miss it.

Today? I am thinking maybe a mini-break from racquetball. A bundled up walk with Zoe and Ray, to the mailbox and back to get the newspaper. But I might have to eat breakfast first--oatmeal? Then to town, taking Ray to work and going to ALT for a meeting. Home by lunch? making lasagna for potluck tonight, looking forward to choir rehearsal. Sauteed onions and mushrooms in oil yesterday to start it.

I look forward to being home, where it is beautiful and quiet...but I appreciate being able to talk to Barbara and Molli. I don't really like being here all alone for hours. It's a paradox.

Much love,

Patty

I am now officially registered for class, but it was not easy. And there are more roadblocks. If you read that a class was on line, would you assume that you could do it at your own pace, whenever you wanted? I did. But apparently I was wrong. My first class is tonight at 5:00. I have a Board meeting at 7. I will have to miss part of one or the other. Not to mention dinner.

I tried to go to the website and download the syllabus. It is a powerpoint presentation. I don't have power point on my computer. It is expensive and I try to avoid buying Microsoft products.

I was thinking maybe I should drop the whole thing.

However, Ray converted the syllabus and sent it to my computer. As I was reading through it, most classes meet on line on Tuesday at 5. So, a problem when I have board meetings the second Tuesday of every month. However, some classes meet asynchronously, not at the same time. And it happens that the second Tuesdays fall into that category. Except March...which is spring break! So, maybe it will be okay.

made some cold sesame noodles with leftover chicken yesterday. Ate some more today for lunch. Tasty! Spent some time at Athens Land Trust, learning about them and moving some things around. I am looking forward to working with them.

white roses, maybe for a tea party?

black with pearls and sequins (with veil)

macrame (?) bag

more straw hats. the pink is nice.

straw hat with big yellow bow

lady's sun hat, straw
man's hat, white with hatband

flat black felt hat - gaucho?