The window not only took the bird's life, but its very essence.

This is a picture of an image on one of the larger windows of the house that Dale and I are sitting for a few weeks. The owners of the house told us before they left that one day they found the imprint on their window after some poor bird slammed into it. Although the picture doesn't show it, you can actually see its little talons, one of its beady eyes, and even individual feathers.

If you can't invent something nice, don't invent it at all

As I was gathering lesson ideas for next semester’s student teaching, I stumbled across a few designs that were unique and inventive, but maybe not as practical as they ought to be.

Invention 1: Cocoon

The Web Site’s Description:
“Cocoon is a place to find shelter in extreme conditions and environments. Hang it off a tree or a cliff face or anywhere you else you need to. Inside, the user is comforted by a warming colours and materials that will ensure they stay warm no matter what the conditions are like outside.”

If I was inside this object, I don’t know if I would feel more comforted or afraid that someone would think it would be funny to do something awful to me while I was in such a vulnerable position. It works for caterpillars, but caterpillars don't make enemies like we humans do.

Invention 2: Ladybuds Earplug Earrings

The Web Site’s Description:
"Designed by a woman who loves NASCAR and rock n’ roll, Ladybuds provide women the opportunity to combat noise and hearing loss in an entirely new way. Through their fun and fearless combination of high-fashion earrings and reusable noise-cancelling earplugs, Ladybuds do what conventional ear protection fails to do; they make it cool to take care of your ears!"

If cool means weird then yes, I would agree with that statement.



Invention 3: Emotive Clothing

The Web Site's Description:
"The inner layer of this outfit is equipped with sensors that respond to the changes in the wearer's emotions and project them onto the textile on the outer layer."

There is a place for avant-gardism but sometimes, the world just isn't ready for it.

Humourous Mexican Quotes

I recently found the journal Dale and I wrote during our 2 months at a Mexican Orphanage and we were able to laugh afresh at the crazy things that happened and crazy things that were said such as the quotes listed below:

Aleshia in an excited voice: Can I drive?!
Mexican in an excited voice: Do you want to die?!

Us: I understand.
Mexican: No, all of you just nod and say "I understand, I understand" and then turn to your friends and whisper, "what did he just say?"
(The Mexican was right, we did this A LOT).

Eden: Mexico - where they have fences to protect dogs from people.

Us (to someone who we just met): We are learning a lot of Spanish.
Eddie (to same person): Yes, it is true they are learning how to speak Spanish. And very soon, they will be better than I.

Eddie: “When I grow up, I will become a vampire. I will be called Eddie the Vampire and go all over the world, searching for the best blood. You don't have to worry though, I don't drink the blood of Americans.” (Eddie never was one to hide his prejudice against anything from the USA nor was he one to hide his weirdness).

DARN! Now I want to go back again. Maybe I will...

Cats Cats Cats

My family's outdoor cat, christened "The Colonel" because of his slight resemblance to KFC's Colonel Sanders, is occasionally allowed indoors. I don't know why we do let him indoors as he uses the opportunity to drink toilet water, do other unmentionable things, and sit in my mom's chair. However both my mom and the cat can be stubborn as the picture below shows.

(Oh dear, I just created a post about a cat! Next thing you know I will only be posting stories about when I took my cat to get his regular checkup and will change my email address to catluver394837@gmail.com!)

Oh Eden you shouldn't have! Your one beauty!

Since most my family and friends are on break, I have been to a New Year’s Eve Party, Christmas Party, volleyball party, Friend-Going-To-Africa party, Birthday Party, and Hair-Dying Party.

All these parties have been relaxing after a difficult semester of college, but I am surprised to find that I am beginning to want a few days just to be productive and work again.

When we were playing kick the bucket at my Aunt Anne’s Birthday party yesterday, the two youngest cousins were given the task of tagging people by yelling out their names. I was so insulted to find that neither cousin knew my name. We had the conversation below as both of them were chasing me through the hallway:

Henry: Hey, what’s your name again?

Me: YOU’VE FORGOTTEN MY NAME HENRY?

Henry: Anthony, what’s her name?

Anthony: I don’t know.

Me: Hey! I just told you my name Anthony!

Henry smiles: Wait… I know your name…

Me: Oh good what is it

Henry: Aunt Alice!

The results of our hair dying party.