This is going to be a very meaningless post, that I'm writing on the spur of the moment, simply because we're almost up to 200 comments and we need a new thread so they won't roll over.
I have one picture in my phone that I took at the mall yesterday, a picture of the store front of Hot Topic. The reason I took this dumb picture, is because in the middle of all the other nonsense in the window , they had a cut out of John McCain, which of course caught my eye, and was there to make fun of him, I'm sure. So I, the one who never takes pictures, snapped this one, and that's the one I'm posting here this morning. The second picture is the lake by the mall, and I just got it off a site online. There is also a river (man made) walk outside the mall, which I may snap when I go back Friday. It seems like a good time of the year to focus on malls, since it's getting awfully close to Christmas, and I'm sure some of us will be spending time there, whether we want to or not.
I RARELY go to the Mall anymore, but I wanted to take Emma, and introduce her to the fantastic toddler play area there, which I did, even though she's 'not' a toddler yet. But we had great fun, and I got to do some shopping, which is always fun to me. I'll even be going back Friday morning to get a little Halloween picture of her taken at the photography place there. because they have a little area set up with a bale of hay and a few pumpkins. I could take that picture myself, here, but I've been meaning to get some 'good' ones taken of her for a while now, and figure there's no better time than the present. Then I'll do the same again sometime before Christmas. It also gives me a good excuse to do some more shopping (as though I need an excuse).
I figure I might as well get used to the half hour drive it takes me to get there, because when Emma 'is' a toddler, I'll want to take her frequently to that really cute play court they have there. It was almost as much fun as shopping. Besides that, a lot of the drive there is quite beautiful, so there's that too.
I'm hoping some of you will feel inspired to share something about your favorite mall (or anything else) with us too. I don't know if anyone else is already thinking about Christmas, but October is normally the month I start thinking about it (the same month the flu shots normally come out). Two good things about October, besides Halloween. Soon I'm sure we'll be thinking about Thanksgiving. There's all that great holiday eating coming up. Another thing I don't need an excuse to do. Eat.
60 comments:
When I go to the mall this Friday, I'm going to take my 'real' camera with me. I'm getting this great feeling that I'm going to start taking pictures. Hanging around all of you may actually start to wear off on me. I've wanted to start taking pictures for 'years', and am hoping this will be the beginning.
Carol, I read about all your active hummers yesterday, but I've haven't seen any in days. My nectar has gone down a little, so I figure there have been some here (since the evidence tells me there have), and I haven't been in front of this window with the feeder much in a few days, so I'll hopefully see some today.
All the signs of a beautiful, clear, sunny day. Going to be 71, which is nice as long as there's plenty of solar warmth that I can stay in by being near windows on the sunny side of the house. That's not where my feeder is though, so I may have to hang my newer (balloon) feeder over on that side of the house. Will be a good day to get out and about too.
"Going to be 71" Solar warmth HA.! I bet you say that to all the Solar's. Do you come here often?
I will help you with this post..and it's not dumb at all, if you think of everything that goes into them...from the construction of them, to the daily maintenance and the malls (Management) responsibility to keep it running day to day
Shopping Malls are the reason that.
I quite my job as a salesperson for a Newspaper b/c of a mall..a little more later....tease you right back.!
An Angel says, 'Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice.'
1. Pray or meditate everyday.
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say 'No' to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, ask what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it and move on.
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut) This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the kid in you everyday.
16. Carry an inspirational book with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough rest.
18. Eat right.
19. Be organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.
24. Make friends with spiritually-centered people.
25. Keep a folder of favorite inspirational readings on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good 'Thank you Lord ...'
27. Laugh.
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).
32. Sit on your ego.
33 Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before. GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU.
A friend who "never forwards e-mails" forwarded the above. That alone made it worthwhile. So I'm sharing it in the hopes you will take what you like and leave the rest.
(^_~)
Looks like I got the last avatar of the thread!
Chloe, great pictures. I love the store window pic with John Mc. Good idea to start thinking about the holidays. It is an interesting time. I look forward to these months - there is excitement in the air. I am concerned for those people who get depressed at this time of the year.
Ivy, my thanks to your friend for sending you these most timely reminders about what we can do to make our lives better. Some I am doing and some I need to remind myself to do.
Yesterday I felt very distraught by an event that happened in my class. I was giving an exam and a student came up to the front of the room and said "This is a poor question and I am not going to answer it." She said this loudly in the middle of the exam. I have never had this happen before and for a few minutes was completely at a loss as to what to do or say. When I had recovered from the shock, I told her and the rest of the class "if you have a problem with a question, write what you think about it on the exam and I will give it some consideration in the grading."
Lately, it seems that students feel it is their right to say or do anything they want in a classroom setting.
Nice going, Chloe. Just start carrying a camera with you & I'll bet you will find plenty to show us.
Why is it that pics of water are for the most part calming?
As far as the window display, I have to say I am completely clueless as what the intent of it
would be. Not even sure who some of those
cutouts are? Is that Liberace in the stars & stripes? Gene Simmons, superman, McCain--believe me if there is a message there---it's beyond me.
And whenever I have to go 'shopping' I have to take a deep breath before I get out of the car
& walk into the Mall. Right now, I need to
go pick up 2010 wall calendars for the house & the office---& keep putting it off--but I will get there soon. Needless to say I am not
a 'good shopper'.
Jan,
That was true "thinking on your feet." You handled that situation with utmost grace. In effect, you called for a "group conscience."
There are two issues: first, the validity of the test question, and second, the manner of the student in confronting you. Can those be separated? I think you've begun that process already. Let us know if we can help you with perspective on the feedback you get from the students. I think your instincts are good, and you can trust your gut.
Ivy,
very nice post on Jan's experience...I had similar thoughts..and am glad that you posted that...glad that you put in the way that you did.!
Solar,
I was recently involved in a discussion of the difference between "authoritative" and "authoritarian." The situation with Jan's students can be seen in light of that difference. More to be pondered...
Natasha,
Get Lucy off my back...she flew (on her jet-broom) over to TM and stalked me until she found, and made me fun of me....the stinker.
Ivy,
That sound like a very interesting discussion, and sure to go over 200 post's here...there is a lot at play when something like this happens...I agree Jan handled it beautifully.!!
Jan, I agree with Ivy & Solar about how you handled the incident with your student. I'm not sure I would have acted as professionally as you did under the circumstances.
That's a girl Chloe, like Coreen said, keep your camera with you. Your camera phone took a pretty good pic.
That Mall window is interesting. Is it a movie store or a Halloween store or both? I don't do malls either. I hate to shop. Going to the mall is sensory overload for me. Too much stuff and I can't focus. I go only when I have to.
My older sister was down here with my niece and her little boy. They hit the mall play center almost every day. The little one just loved it.
Just a warning, and my older sister would slap me for mentioning it because she thinks I worry too much and she is right, but with this H1N1 so active right now I'd be careful bringing the young ones to places where lots of kids go. Can't tell them to wash their hands and not suck on the furniture.
Thanks for putting up the post today.
Ivy, great list. I'm going to copy it and hang it in the bathroom to remind me to do those things every day.
Solar, you are the sunlight in our lives. You and the big bright ball up in the sky.
Jan, that student would have startled me also. Now that I have time to think about it and I don't have a class staring at me, I think I would have said, yes tests do have some bad questions, that is why we analyze them. Bad questions do have a purpose, choose your best answer anyway.
That student could have handled that in a much better way. She sounds like a show off. You handled it well. You put the monkey on her back.
Students do like to put the prof on the spot. I had this guy in class who I went to high school with years before. He had been working in construction when he decided to go back to school and become a nurse. He was a cute guy. I didn't know him very well in HS.
I was sitting up on a desk in the front of the class lecturing. It was one of those 3 hour lectures. That guy raised his hand and I called on him. He said Ms T. you have a hole in your pants. I was wearing slacks. Talk about throw me off my focus. I knew it was BS but he got a big laugh. I asked him if maybe I wasn't talking fast enough for him if he had time to examine my clothes.
I didn't have any holes. I did check after class.
Finally home, so quick fly by for now.
Carol, it would seem that the deluge subsided with little damage to you or your home.
Ivy, need to give your list some thought, not
sure which I may actually follow.
In last night's comments, I remember Mary made me smile when she said she
has jewelry pieces everywhere, since I have
accumualted more yarn than I think I could ever
knit into anything. I marvel at all I have &
still have to buy new yarn to complete a project.
Jan, you mentioned quilting the lake leaf color
reflections--I would bet you could create a
stunning quilt--& I would add that since you
know how to quilt you must have patience.
Solar, not sure what Chloe did at TM,since I was too busy with problems today to get there,
just managed a check in here earlier, but I
am going to speculate that you deserved whatever Chloe dished out.....
And oh Chloe, not sure what you agreed to that
I said last night (couldn't get the comment to
refer back) but my guess is when I said Solar
shouldn't side with anyone against the family?!
Am I right.
Carol,
That male student's impudence is a prime example of "hostile environment" sexual harassment.
Carol,
Your answer was quick thinking. Better than making a "federal case" out of it. You and Jan must have gone to the same "school of quick thinking." lol
Ivy, that male student was older than I was and I think he might have thought he was leveling out the playing field but I had the grade book on my side so I still had the power.
My male students did like to pull stunts but they did entertain me also. I didn't show them any special treatment but I think some of the female faculty actually did.
Coreen, still not totally out of the woods with the river. Flood stage here is 4 feet. They predict the river cresting at 5 feet then slowly dropping. That won't hurt. Won't be down below flood stage until after Sunday. We have two more days of heavy rain expected on Wed and Thurs this week. Now what happens after that??
One of the worst floods since I've had the camp, and not hurricane related, was in Oct. 06. Hit 10.5 feet. Rita's surge was about the same. That hurricane that hit Tx last year sent a surge of 11.3. Only an inch from getting in the camp.
Since I've lived out in this area, not here, worst flood was close to 14 feet. Definitely had water in the camp then. If you live around water, it's just the chance you take.
Carol,
Interesting that your student had to "level the playing field" as if there was something inherently flawed in the fact that you, a younger-than-him-female, had legitimate authority. Notice also that his weapon of choice was to attempt to throw you off balance about your appearance by insinuating there was a "hole in your pants." Outrageous. Hope he got an "F."
Chloe and Solar, your descriptions of the elements, WOMAN and MAN were killer. Ought to post them here also just in case any of our lurkers don't hang out on TM
Sometime Ivy, I just rolled with the punches. I don't think the guy had any malice in his heart. I think it was his clumsy way of flirting and getting attention. He turned out to be a good nurse and entrepreneur.
Some of my male students would ask me out on a date. The depths they'll go to for a grade. I didn't go.
I'm glad you rolled with the punches, Carol, but they are still resorting to their fallback position which is rooted in gender discrimination.
Ivy, you seem to be knowledgable re: HIPPAA. I almost had a dilemma today. A warden called to ask me to see an inmate. His mom called Admin. to complain that he was injured by the police during his arrest. He never sought any medical help.
I called him down to check him out but hoped they wouldn't ask me what I found. Before he came down I tried to look it up but didn't know where to even start. I tried a search but nada.
I wonder if I can discuss an inmate's condition with the jail admin. The jail has care and custody of said inmate. I have heard at the prison I worked at that I could but don't know for sure. I did get this inmate to sign a consent to share the info with admin and his mom.
"And oh Chloe, not sure what you agreed to that said last night"
Hi Coreen, I went back to see which comment you were talking about that I agreed with. I was agreeing with Jan's praise of your pictures and photographic ability, and thanking you for sharing them with us.
However, I also agree with the order (exaggerating here) you gave Solar, threatening him (more exaggeration)if he sides with anyone 'against' the family.
Solar, you need to start a new book of rules for the Swamp.
We must be careful letting Solar write those rules????
U should have gone out with those male students...took a lot of guts to ask the teach out for a date.
I was going to bring that post over as soon as Chloe did.
She out smarted me. I was snipe hunting (I hate that crap) and posted a joke for all of the good wictches at tm..I left it for Patsi.
I didn't bring it forward to the new thread, and did bring another one....well U KNOW WHO as right behind me?..yep..it was she.
Chloe did a great job of playing off my joke and made up her own....I was laughing so hard that it hurt my head..and that doesn't take much.
She played it perfectly and suckered me...that was the perfect part...then I was forced to bring mine over..just to keep it on the up, and up.....
Ps Ivy, went all the way back to the last thread to get me and bring me up to the new thread...She is the Good Witch..the rest of you???
Unless we are just letting him be the scribe/secretary.
Oh,and this Coreen gal: What kinda Lawyer is she by the way...she took Chloe's side without even knowing the facts...sure she was right..but still....
Carol, I just sent an email to Jack to personally invite him to join us here at the Swamp. It would be so great if he did. He just bought that house next door to him, at a fraction of what it's worth, and I believe he will be doing all the renovation himself. I told him we'd love to see pictures of the improvements as he goes along, hear about how his neighborhood meetings are going, etc.... but he may just think I'm being nosy. Still, I wish he would join us occasionally, and told him so.
Solar, how would I know if they really cared about me or were just trying for a better grade. Also what if they kissed and told???
"We must be careful letting Solar write those rules????"
I know what you mean Carol, but we know for a fact he'll enforce them. He's always on us about something from that dumb, uh I mean thorough Book of Bullwinkle (is that the name he calls it).
I took some pics of a flowering plant I've been trying to ID. Wonder where I should put it up?
Solar, I found that Joke, pre-made. I didn't make it up, but wish I had.
I always do things the easy way. You know that.
Put it up here Carol. We can change threads and see if anyone can id it for you. Ivy's really good at that stuff.
NO, NO new rules: The Book of Winkle Stands. I will read off-of it as we need to..by the way. since we have been here at the swamp. I have overlooked a few infractions. Figured we were new, and did not want to cause the momentum to slow down...
the time is coming tho...to adhere to the rules or face the Big Winkle himself.!!!
For you new broom gliders...no worries; I will fill you in as we go along.....It's all right here in the book of Winkle...I don't make this stuff up you know.!
Carol, I always figured it was an unwritten (or written, for all I know) law that a teacher shouldn't date her students.
See, he's bossy.
Too bad no one listens.
"..that a teacher shouldn't date her students"
I agree Chloe, but it was sad that it was about the only guys I came across.
Carol,
Did you say the inmate authorized you to discuss his condition with the Administrator? If so, it should be okay. Is there something about the nature of the release that has you questioning it?
Solar,
You know better than that. Carol would be setting herself up for trouble if she dated her students.
No, I felt OK after getting the release but what if I hadn't, would I be able to discuss their condition?
At times I have to request an inmate be transferred due to a medical condition. I then have to present the request to a Judge.
The Book of WINKLE, the book of WINKLE.!! How many times do I have to say it??
Carol,
All Nurses; kiss and tells...every-body know that HA!
Excuse us! Praise the book of WINKLE!
Carol,
Once he graduated, you can call him.
One of my friends married her high school social studies teacher. But that was years after she graduated and he had left teaching.
Actually, it's not "illegal," for a teacher to date a student, although it may be a policy violation. It's not very smart, though, because it is a prescription for disaster.
Ivy,
Yes I agree with you. At no time should a Teacher date a student..the potential problems are not worth it. Just teasing Carol...
That is a huge rule to break, and usually only one will suffer for it. The teacher is the one that has to be held to a standard that is in line with the profession....
Was there a particular one you regretted not dating Carol?
BY Joe...I think she's got it.!!
Carol,
No release, no discussion.
I know the dilemma. During the early days of HIPPA, I had a VP once who thought she could browbeat me into revealing an employee's health condition. Rumor was rampant he had AIDS. He did, but I was the only one who knew it for a fact. He specifically confided in me with directive to tell no one. My hands were tied. It was hard to stand up to that boss, but I had to.
Thanks Ivy.
I put up the pics on a new thread. No rush.
Carol put up a flower thread. I'm stumped. I don't know what it is...must not be poison, though, if the butterflies like it. lol
Solar, Did you like that movie too? I've heard you use that expression before. I can always hear Rex Harrison say it, when you do that.
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