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Archives for 2011

Kindle Fire

Kindle Fire

Happy Christmas and Merry Graduation to me! Kindle Fire BoxHappy Christmas and Merry Graduation to me! My dear husband, Edmund, subsidized this fine purchase, and I just opened it last night. A Kindle Fire!

I didn’t have tons of time to play around with it, but so far, I am way excited and impressed. I think it will do everything I’d like it to. It’s easy to download music and books. In fact my whole Kindle library was there ready for me to download my books and android apps onto it. Quite impressive.And if I want anything from the store, it’s easy to switch over, but the first thing I am shown is either the books/apps already on the device or the items I’ve already purchased that are on the Amazon Cloud. This is Money because I have some sweet free apps I got from the Amazon App store months ago, and now I can play them on a bigger screen.

It’s heavier than it looks, yet it feels delicate. I have two co-workers who already have the Kindle Fire, and I see why they didn’t want to take it out of their house without a cover on it. My cover was backordered, but should be in soon. Can’t wait, because I don’t dare take mine out of the house without a cover!

Everyone who purchases the Kindle Fire will get a month free of Amazon Prime video streaming, so you can see if you’d like it. The free titles are limited, but include Firefly. OMG, so awesome! And the video looks very sweet, and the speakers sound great. No time to really play with it now, but rest assured, I will be, and will let you know.

As far as reading novels and such, I will probably stick with my regular Kindle, because it has the E Ink display. But for Graphic novels and magazines, I suspect the Fire is the way to go.

So, geeking out a bit with the Kindle Fire.

Pretty Screen of my Kindle Fire - Pre-purchased Books ready for downloading

Balance

Balance

Hey look, I balance a ruler on my finger to illustrate balanceBalance. One of my goals for the following year is to achieve some sort of balance in my life. With work, play, and life in general. I’ve lost a bit of my balance in going back to school. It is only now in the aftermath of my last couple of classes, that I can realize it.

After I finished my Stats final on Monday, it was like the string holding my body together snapped. My back is killing me and I am walking around like I’m an old person (no offence, old people.) It is clear I need to work on reducing my stress. How, I don’t really know, but I think Balance would be a great place to start.

I don’t do New Year’s Resolutions. They always seem to not happen. But. I have done goals. [Evidence my recent completion of my bachelor’s degree.] So. I will have some goals for the next year.

What’s the difference? I think what bothers me about “resolutions” is that you are resolving to do something – so if you don’t or can’t manage to do it, you’ve failed in some way. And usually the resolution is so broad, so undefined – it’s hard to hang your hat on it. But goals. They can change. If you can’t attain a goal, maybe you need to try it a new way or make a new goal.

Take this blog blag, for instance. Up until the end of October of this year, my posting on it was sporadic at best. I would resolve to post more. I would feel bad about posting more. Neither would work as a tactic. Instead I made a goal. I would post every day in November. I knew I was very busy, so it didn’t matter when I wrote the post (so I could schedule posts ahead) I just needed to have one post each day. The posts didn’t need to be good. No one needed to read them. They just needed to be done. For some reason, this worked for me. When I thought about blagging differently, it suddenly became easier.

So my goal for the coming year, starting now (why wait?) is to achieve balance. Sometimes I will be a little right or left of center, other times I might be way off, but there will be times I’ll be smack dab in the middle and blissing out on awesome.

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Do you do New Years Resolutions? Do tell! Why or why not?

Shopping

Shopping

image

I worked late tonight, had a good head of steam going and I went with it. Then I went shopping for our company holiday party which will happen on Friday. Items procured for said office party were a combination of foodstuffs and a top secret Yankee Swap gift.

(I am writing this on my phone because I don’t want to turn on my computer, so please forgive any imperfections.)

I will be making a Garlic Feta Cheese Spread, recipe from my Mom. Crackers and veggies on the side.

I love Yankee Swaps. Are you familiar with them? The rules vary, but the gist is: anyone who wants to participate buys a gift within a certain dollar amount, my office has a $30 cap, when I worked at USM it was between $5-10. The gifts can be funny, valuable, or jokey. One year, when I had my shit together, I got a bunch of stuff from Think Geek, it was a Nerd Gift. Last year I bought some Simpsons pint glasses and a 6 pack of beer. This year I’m not tellin’, but I think it’s pretty awesome.

Anyway, all the gifts are put in a pile, and everyone who brought a gift draws a number. The higher number the better, but the best is number 1. The first person (#1) picks out a gift and open it. Person #2 can decide to take either person #1’s gift or open a new one. Going in numerical order, each susequent person can either take an already opened gift from someone else, or choose an unopened one. At the end, person 1 can choose to take anyone’s gift. Now at my work we have a rule that one item can’t be swapped more than 3 times – otherwise we might be there all night.

And no, the image shown is not a hint on what my Yankee Swap gift is. It’s just my new mouse pad with squishies. Why did I post it? Because it serves as the first photo I will post from my phone and I forgot to take a shopping photo.

That’s all I have.

Movie Magic

Movie Magic

It's Cinemagic - Where the Movies areTonight I went to the movies.

If you’ve known me for a while, then you know that I love to go to the movie theatre to see movies. I budget money especially for movie-watching. Movie watching (and television watching) kind of went by the wayside while I  finished my degree. Because of this, I haven’t been able to see all the movies I would’ve liked to see. [I would also try my hardest to not watch series television, I did get hooked on a couple of programs, but they were really good (Like Doctor Who, Torchwood and American Horror Story). I avoided others that were sure to hook me (like Glee).] So I expect I will glut myself on movies/media for a while. Looking forward to it.

Kind of sad that Blockbusters went out of business while I wasn’t looking. Guess I’ll have to figure out this Red Box thing.

Why do I love to go to the movies? I think big part of it was that I grew up in Monson, Maine. Monson is in the Moosehead Lake Region, also known as The Maine Highlands. The nearest large movie theatre (multiplex) was in Bangor, Maine – 60 miles away. Going to the movie theatre was a big deal. My Dad loved movies too, we had one of the first VCRs in town and we rented many videos from Page’s General Store (which was across the street from our house, we lived above the laundromat).

On my thirteenth birthday I asked  to see Cheech and Chong’s Nice Dreams. It’s a testament to how awesome my Mom is that she a) took me to see the movie and b) other than covering my eyes when the naked guy was on the glass elevator, did not say a word about the subject matter of the film. I should ask her what she thought, I never have. Maybe she reads my blog. I’ll know when I go over to my parents for suppa on Thursday.

I don’t read movie reviews, unless they are written by MaryAnn Johanson, from The FlickFilospher. I find that she and I have very similar geeky tastes. That said, I usually only read them AFTER I’ve seen the movies. Because I hate, abhor spoilers. And my idea of spoilers is extremely broad. I don’t want to know plot points, or to have scenes described. I decide to see a movie based on it’s trailer. If people start discussing a movie, book or tv show I want to watch or read I will put my fingers in my ears and say over and over again “lalalalalalalalalala.” Yes. I will. You might have seen me do it. MaryAnn is very good at NOT spoilering, so if I am on the fence for a particular film (like I was for District 9) I’ll read what she said and make a decision from there.

And yes, I go to movies by myself. All the time. I like going to the movies by myself. I don’t understand why other people don’t like going by themselves. Sure, it can be better to go with another person. They can guard your popcorn when you go to the bathroom. You can hold hands and stuff during the cry-ey parts. But that is just an added bonus. When I am at the movies, I am there to get lost in the story. To forget myself for a bit. I don’t need to bring another person with me to do it. Now I will wait for Edmund if we both want to see a particular movie. But our tastes don’t always mesh (Ed has much better taste than I do). And that is okay.

I saw Tower Heist. It was a lot of fun. Very clever. Eddie Murphy was spot on. And Gabourey Sidibe a delight. You should catch it, either in the theatre or when it’s in the video. [Thus ends my review.]

There are a few movies that are on my list right now I’d like to see in the theatre: Arthur Christmas, Twilight Breaking Dawn Part I (shut up), The Descendants, and Puss in Boots. Upcoming I want to see: Sherlock Holmes, Mission Impossible, and Young Adult. [No linking this time, Google it your damn self.]

So anyway, I love to watch movies in the movie theatre.

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How do you like to see movies? Do you watch movies by yourself?

Done

Done

Squiggy and Lenny are glad this school thing is overAs of this moment, I am done with everything. I’ve completed all the classwork I’ve needed to in order to earn my undergraduate degree. Did you hear me? I’ve now done everything I’ve needed to do to get my Sociology Bachelor’s with a Mathematics Minor.

And done feels good.

I’ll admit it, I cried for a bit. They were tears of relief, let me tell you. Working full-time and going to school part-time was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. Hardest. Because I made many sacrifices I wouldn’t have had to make if I wasn’t going to school. And that is how I learned I could not do it all, somethings had to go. Which is okay. It was totally worth it.

And now I never have to take another college class again. Ever. I am not saying I won’t take another college class, but I don’t have to take any. I did think that maybe I’d get a graduate degree, or even a doctorate. And, the way I’m feeling now, that would be a no. I am crispy. Done.

What is on my plate? What’s next? Well, for the next few weeks I’m going to try to take it easy, enjoy a break. I have lots of projects ready for me to begin, but there will be plenty of time to do them in January and February. I’ll just keep blogging, hang out with the husband, pet the kitties, and start working on life after college.

Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle

Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle

Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle WiggleWas thinking of a more robust post for today. Had it started even. But I am doing my Stats test right now, and frankly, cannot seem to get it done. So. Anyway. I think my professor wants us to do well because he keeps giving us hints. It’s great when I can understand them. All I can think of is that by this time tomorrow I’ll be done.

Here is my post about nothing, with a little wiggle on the side (see the screen shot of the wiggle? Actually it’s not a screen shot per se, it is an actual photograph of my 23″ Monitor while I was playing the following video.

)

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How are YOU doing?

Probability

Probability

Stats Final Detritus It’s stats weekend. I am currently working on my Stats final. And in spite of how I am feeling right this second, the probability I will survive this weekend is fairly high.

But. I am sick. Sick. Not terrible sick. Like I’m ambulatory and everything, but it is the kind of sickness that makes me inclined to want to stick close to the house. Or a bathroom, at the least. I’ll spare you the details, except to say I’ve temporarily adopted the BRAT diet. That’s all I’ve got to say about that.

So tonight I am kinda working on my test. Kinda. And thinking that maybe I’ll need to visit the bathroom again soon (sorry, I said I was done talking about it, but apparently I lied. Whoops.) Also scheming for tomorrow. I planned on going to Panera, like I normally would. But in order to do so I might need to take drastic measures–

Look, I started talking about (poop) things I said I wasn’t going to talk about, and that’s not too sporting is it?

So. Stats final. Poop. Got nothing to top that, I tell ya.

Friday Fun

Friday Fun

A Dominion GamePreparing for my Stats final by playing Dominion with my husband, reading romance novels, and planning world domination.

How do you prepare for tests?

Tomorrow at five p.m. my professor will Release The Kracken! post the final exam on USM’s BlackBoard system. And I will download it. And I will spend the following 48 hours gnashing my teeth and scribbling numbers and symbols onto white paper and screaming and getting snacks and not watching television and trying to find music to listen to that will help me study and lying in a stupor and hugging a squirming cat and listlessly checking my Facebook feed and hyperventilating and scribbling some more numbers and symbols on white paper and erasing things and — well, you get the picture.

And by five p.m. on Monday I will be done with this whole mess, barring any annoying red-tape thingys I didn’t catch in time, and will have satisfied the requirements for my Math Minor and my undergraduate degree. After six long years I will be done. Still doesn’t seem real yet.

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How do you deal with transitions? Also – know anything about Stats? I might need a life-line. Or something.

Maine Girl

Maine Girl

Maine Girl - Memoir Class Portfolio DoneCheck it. Here is the Final Portfolio I handed in for my Memoir class. Original name, huh? I know, I know, most of the other women in the class could’ve used the same title. But you know, when it gets to be close to the time you need to leave for class, and all you need is the title, you invariably use the first one that comes to mind. I wrote memoir, it was mostly about me and living in Maine, hence Maine Girl.

After class a few classmates and I went to the Great Lost Bear. My especially lame blag post about that is here. I used my cell phone to post it, but I was having so much fun laughing and joking with my classmates, I forgot I was going to do a post, and ended up publishing it at the last minute. All 1.25 sentences of it. So my continuous blog/blag posting is maintained, yay.

I needed to drive home, so I ordered a 5 ounce Guinness. About half-way through that, I ordered another 5 ounce Guinness. So partay. It’s all good, because we laughed and talked for two hours. I’ll miss seeing these guys every week.

Maybe I’ll see some of them online. I am connected with a couple of my classmates on Facebook, and I gave everyone my card – so the ball is in their court. One thing that is great about things nowadays is that it is more likely that we can keep a thread of connection through these social networks. As long as we all keep a modicum of activity on our accounts.

And here it is. I am very close to being totally done. Only one more hurdle to jump before I attain my degree – my Probability and Statistics Final. This final will be a take home. It will be released online at 5 p.m. on Saturday night, and I will have until 5 p.m. Monday night to complete it. I can email my results or drive it onto campus. Two days is plenty of time, right? Keep this in mind: I worked for four days on my second exam, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, and I still wasn’t able to answer all the questions. My grade this test was an 85. This was with an extra 5 points (for a scale). That means I got an 80 on a test that I worked on for four days. The final exam is worth 35 percent of my final grade, and could make or break me.

Well, that’s not exactly true. Right now, based on my past performance, as long as I hand in my test, I am assured I will pass this class with at least a D. If I get a 50 on my final, I’ll get a C, if I get over 65, I’ll at least get a B. In order to get an A, however, as my work stands right now, I’d need to get at least a 93 on my Stats final – a long shot, at best. This is because I did not hand in one of my homework assignments on time. That said, I snuck a copy of said homework into the homework pile on Monday. I am crossing my fingers that he’ll give me credit for it. I figured it was worth a shot, anyway.

So I may not get an A in my Stats class, but I am likely to get a B and am pretty sure to pass. So go me! And this is the crazy kind of stuff I obsess about. Which is pretty funny when you consider that the first time I went to college, I left with a 1.37 GPA – [2.0 is a C average, for those not in the know.] Just think of my poor husband and coworkers who all have to listen to me while I obsess.

I wish I had something more clever to say. But I don’t. I guess we can save clever for AFTER my final.

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Do you know anything about Statistics or Probability? Moment Generating Functions? The Big F and the little f? If yes, can I use you as my lifeline?

Almost There

Writing this from the Great Lost Bear, I spent all day working on my Memoir and here is my post. Later.

Great ideas and OMG I have to do HOMEWORK!

Great ideas and OMG I have to do HOMEWORK!

Had a great idea on the way home from work today. A non-fiction book topic that kind of slapped me up by the head and said “Hey, you should write about me, duh.” And I was like, duh, I should. So I came home from work, opened up my trusty Pac-Man Moleskine, and started sketching out the book. I have chapters, and subtitles, it’s fleshing out pretty well.

But.

Today is Tuesday, December 6th. Tomorrow is Wednesday, December 7th – which also corresponds with my last Memoir writing class. And while writing down ideas for my new book is awesome it is not the same as polishing the rest of my stories, catching up on my other writings and creating a portfolio. That’s right, as the headline says, I’ve got to do homework!. ARgh!

Almost there.

Overwhelmed with what I want to do, which may or may not be equal to what I need to do. I need to write, that’s for sure, and I am not finding inspiration on the Facebooks or the Twitter. Well, that’s not exactly true. I have plenty of inspiration, but not targeted toward Memoir writing. Instead Twitter and Facebook are inspiring me to watch fun videos, comment on current events, make stupid jokes, and cry at Tim Minchin songs. Stuff I can do again next week, after my Stats final (don’t even get me started on that!)

So. I am going to post this bloggy thing and chill out for awhile. Until my dear husband, Edmund, brings me the delicious dinner he’s cooking (if the smells from the kitchen are any indication of deliciousness;). And then I will write.

Multitasking Like a MoFo

This is one of the reasons I’ll be glad to get done at school: Fall semesters are especially hard. Spring semesters are great, during finals it’s almost summer time. People are relaxed. Work is steady, but not too crazy. But the Fall semester, oy vey! This was true both where I work now and when I worked at USM, December is a very busy month. And add finals and final projects onto that, with a sprinkling of holidays and holiday shopping, Christmas parties, and snow, the stress levels can get a bit high.

So I’m at work, multitaksing like a MoFo, getting things done. Tonight I will have my last Stats class (before my final due next Monday.) Once I get through this week, I predict even my hectic work schedule will feel like a vacation. A nice, working vacation.

With that said, I’m back to it!

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How do you handle stress? Really, I’d like to know!

The End is Near

The End is Near

Me on the Official Graduation Day, May 2011The End is Near. School, I mean. Have you been reading this blog?! I talk about just about every day. Anyway. The end is near. In a week and a day, on Monday, December 12th, I will complete my Probability and Statistics final (in what could be the very last test I ever take) and thus fulfill my requirements for the Math Minor and finally earn my undergraduate degree.

And I am feeling anxious and overwhelmed and I wonder if I will be able to get everything done in time and I am pretty sure I can swing and A in my Memoir class, but not absolutely sure, and I know that an A in my Stats class is a longshot but as long as I pass the class I’ll be okay and maybe I’ll get a B in Stats, that would be nice, and I don’t know how to do my Stats homework and I can’t seem to concentrate on anything and I want to sleep sleep sleep and I can’t I keep distracting myself with books and games and I am not sure how I am going to make it — or to put it more succinctly: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

I am so lucky. One benefit to being a working-full-time and going-to-school-part-time student is that there is no uncertainty when I finish my degree. I already have my job. [The fact that me going back to school was instrumental in my securing my job is helpful for me to remember that yes, the stress was worth it.] Furthermore I like (love) my job and feel that my prospects within the company are good and can only get better.

So why am I feeling this tension? I feel that there will be this big change in my life and I don’t know what it will be. I’ll still be living in Westbrook with Edmund and working in Kennebunk and I’ll still be driving the same car and I’ll still have two awesome cat creatures. I’ll just have more time. I’ll be free.

I’ve been holding back. I haven’t performed/acted in public since 2005, except for reading my poetry a few times [I took an improv class a couple of years ago, but other than that, nothing.] I used to be a lot more social. I liked to hang out. For a time, in the 1990s I went out every single night of the week. But with school and such I found many times I’d beg off. I’d even tell Edmund to go out without me – no reason why he shouldn’t enjoy himself.

Okay. I know what it is. When I decided to go back to school, I had a goal in mind. I knew I wanted to be a speaker – but I had no subject matter, no content. I didn’t know how to do research. So went back to school, studied Sociology and Mathematics, and got the skills I needed. And now I need to put my proverbial money where my mouth is – I’ve been percolating, and now I need to start making it happen. I still don’t know what IT is, but I’ve got a better idea of how to find out. I have a lot of crazy ideas, and now it’s time to implement them.

I’ve already started working on my crazy ideas. I’m resurrecting my balloon twisting business, I’m blogging every day (right here on my blag!), I’m starting an online magazine, and will start working with more podcasting (on The Lex and Lanna Show and at The BureauOfAwesome with Edmund), and I have Vlogging plans too. I will measure my success with one metric: does it amuse me? If it amuses me in any way, it is a success.

So here I go. In a week, I’ll be jumping off the precipice. But staying in the same place. I plan on enjoying the ride. How about you?

Second-to-last Stats Saturday

Second-to-last Stats Saturday

“What are you doing today, Lanna?”, you ask. Why yes, it’s another STATS Saturday! The second-to-last one in my undergraduate career. Soon there will be no more Stats Saturdays, but at this point, this thought does not make me sad. Instead I am terrified and excited that soon this will be all over and I can be a normal person again! Whatever that is.

“But Lanna,” you might say, “you are not now nor have you ever been a normal person.” And I will say SHUT UP YOU with your infernal asking me how I am doing and calling me not a normal person. I have had enough! Enough I say!

And then I will get a case of the vapors.

And then you would accuse me of reading too many romance novels when I should be doing something else, whether it be homework or sleeping, and I would have to concur that you are right. But I wouldn’t, because I am an ornery vile creature who cannot admit her own wrong doing. We would break up.

And then you’d say something funny or sweet and I would be charmed into forgiving you and your teremity. And you would forgive me my faults because you just can’t stay mad at me.

And then you ask me how I’m doing. And it all starts over again. In an endless cycle of ridiculousness.

Thoughts While Driving

I commute from Westbrook to Kennebunk. It’s a 30 minute trip each way which gives me plenty of time to think. In theory. In the mornings, I don’t think. I listen to the radio and zone out. As we’ve discussed before, I am not a morning person, so it’s nice to have some veg time (of course, I am usually tooling along at 75 miles per hour, so maybe I should rethink that.) This morning I was arguing with people in my head and putting people in their proper place and you would’ve been proud of my oratory abilities and such. I told ’em like it is! And I was right! Damminit!

Tonight I drove back toward Westbrook with the radio blaring (not ready for Christmas music yet, so still using 97.9 for drive-time), reminding myself I need to get off at Exit 46 (best way to my Parent’s house) rather than Exit 47 (best way to our house) or Exit 45 (the mall – duh). Because, when I’m driving, sometimes I go on autopilot. And that’s after knowing from these attorneys of how perilous that could be. In my brain thinking, paying attention to the road but not paying attention; as long as everything is going aces, all the cars stay out of my way, the roads are dry and the visibility good – I can let my brain lead me to home.

Once I was driving from Westbrook to Portland to meet Edmund at The Great Lost Bear. I took the Westbrook Arterial and drove by Exit 47. Well, my brain turned on and thought I might be driving to work. I got on the interstate going south, instead of driving straight by the interstate to take Brighton Avenue instead. Of course I don’t notice until I was half-way down the on-ramp. I exited on Exit 46 and hooked over from Congress street instead. Good times.

Sometimes I daydream about winning five million dollars, from the lottery or maybe some eccentric person just gives us the money because we are cool. Then I start spending it. And I realize that, clearly, five million dollars is not enough, if we’re going to share it with my parents and brother, and Ed’s parents and his sister, we are going to need a lot more money. So I should really daydream about winning 100 million dollars. That could only be from a lottery. And maybe I should buy a ticket or something. No matter. Once my fantasy degrades to how many awesome but tasteful things we will do with the money – we will get a big house, and start a foundation, yea that’s it a foundation for artists! and everyone will love us because we are so generous, and cool, we are very very cool – I realize that maybe, just maybe the “winning money” daydream is not that productive. So I plot out possible novels instead. Novels where the heroines (it’s always a heroine) inherit, you guessed it, a lot of money! And a big house! [And the heroine is always single, and she always meets a tall, dark and handsome gentleman, and they fall in loves and gets married and there is nary a hidden wife in the bell tower.]

And then there is my favorite time. It’s rare, but it does happen: when I spend my drive time thinking about a work problem. I’m not talking about interpersonal relationships and such. What I mean is when I have a particularly tricky programming issue to solve. Whether it’s because the survey is complex or the research associate wants to look at the data a different way, or even if it’s just because there are a large number of variables I need to consider and I know there is a way to get the work done quicker – I LOVE obsessing with how I am going to solve this work problem. And the aha! moments are priceless.

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What do you think about when you’re driving?