Dr Suess

The subject I have chosen to do first for my study is called Computer Based Resources In Education. I figured that even though I don't have an actual class as such, I do have these 2 technologically minded sons that I homeschool, so thought I would enjoy this subject. I started off very tentatively as I was unsure of so many things to do with studying after finishing my first degree 25 years ago!! I'm sure I am not THAT old??

I am enjoying it now that I have decided to do what I tell the kids - be yourself and do your best!

A task we had to do was chose an historical figure we could identify with and how they would have used the internet. I couldn't think of anyone to identify with... so ended up on the internet (how appropriate!) searching for historical figures.

This is my response to the task -
I ended up choosing Theodor Suess Giesel or Dr Suess. We have many things in common - love to write, enjoy nonsensical words, love bright and wacky illustrations and always like to see a positive message in things. I think Theodor would have loved the internet. Imagine the possibilities? He could have made interactive characters come alive on the screen for millions of people. He could have surfed the net and found enough to make hundreds more crazy characters and zany drawings. Imagine what fun it would be to read his thoughts on twitter?
My lecturer ( I think that is her title) posted a reply in response and included the following poem by Dr Suess on computers. I love it... as does the rest of my Dr Suess loving family. I hope you do too?

If a packet hits a pocket on a socket on a port,
and the bus is interrupted as a very last resort,
and the address of the memory makes your floppy disk abort,
then the socket packet pocket has an error to report.

If your cursor finds a menu item followed by a dash,
and the double-clicking icon puts your window in the trash,
and your data is corrupted 'cause the index doesn't hash,
then your situation's hopeless and your system's gonna crash!

If the label on the cable on the table at your house,
says the network is connected to the button on your mouse,
but your packets want to tunnel on another protocol,
that's repeatedly rejected by the printer down the hall,

and your screen is all distorted by the side effects of gauss,
so your icons in the window are as wavy as a souse,
then you may as well reboot and go out with a bang,
'cause as sure as I'm a poet, the sucker's gonna hang!

When the copy of your floppy's getting sloppy on the disk,
and the microcode instructions cause unnecessary risk,
then you have to flash your memory and you'll want to RAM your ROM.
Quickly turn off the computer and be sure to tell your mom.

Don't you just love that!? Of course I had to look up what a gauss is... here is a definition.

The gauss, abbreviated as G, is the cgs unit of measurement of a magnetic field B (which is also known as the "magnetic flux density", or the "magnetic induction"), named after the German mathematician and physicist Carl Friedrich Gauss. One gauss is defined as one maxwell per square centimeter.

So now you know too!!

And a souse? souse 1 (sous) v. soused, sous·ing, sous·es. v. tr. 1. To plunge into a liquid. 2. To make soaking wet; drench. 3. To steep in a mixture, as in pickling.

Not so sure this fits the poem but then Dr Suess was reknown for his use of non-existent words!

Righto gotta go...

Ciao, Kathryn

Study Time

Well this confirmed natural learner has gone back to school! Yep I have enrolled in a Postgraduate Certificate of Education. I already have my teaching degree but thought it would be a good example to set for my children to do some serious study. If I survive the four units for this I will go on and do another four units and than when I decide to return to teaching I will have a Masters degree to wave around!!
Gregory has also enrolled in some serious study -a unit through Open Uni. He is pretty impressed with himself for starting a Uni subject at only just 15 and this has gotten him through the very steep learning curve he had to begin with. He has chosen a Philosophy subject which means there are some seriously deep and meaningful discussions going on in this house!!
Part of my Uni subject is to start a blog - woohoo I am ahead there!! About the only thing I feel ahead on though... who had the bright idea that she had time to do study??? Yikes - talk about serious committment!!
Anyway the good thing is that I won't be neglecting my blog so much now.
Ok, off to do some more study - will be back soon to fill you all in the first 2 months of the year.
Ciao, Kathryn

Interesting Start to the day

As most of you know I like to start my mornings with my breakfast in front of the computer checking my emails and blogs I read.

Today was interesting and has had me thinking all day. One friend, who I will call a friend although I don't know her very well, but have a lot of respect and admiration for, had replied to an email saying that she was having a bad day. She has CLL, which can vary in its severity and today she was obviously feeling very down. The other friend, is a special part of my teenage life and he sent me a photo taken from the balcony of his apartment in Switzerland. It was breathtaking!

I was sad that my first friend felt unwell and unhappy and wanted to cheer her up but she lives 4 hours away! The second friend I felt a little jealous of, for his gorgeous view. It made me think how important friends are and how they can affect your life without even realising it. I stopped being sad and jealous and thought about what a great life I have and how blessed I am to have a few very good close friends and many many friends all over the country who I often think of, even if I don't see them. So am now in a happy place!!

And on to other less deep and meaningful things! I am attempting to follow Becky Higgins and lots of others into the 365 day project. You have to take a photo a day for a year - yep, you heard me right - a whole year. Well I can tell you that if I can do it anyone can. I was wondering what photos I could take as we seem to go from being hermits to social bunnies here at this house. We spend weeks hanging around the house then we zip off to some gorgeous place for a week , then home again. I was thinking how boring the stay at home parts are - BUT of course, they won't be boring to the future generations. For example, it is good to document the everyday things too. At our house, Tuesday is always Pizza night. It started because Tuesday is the afternoon I take the Joey Scout Mob for an hour or so. After this I don't feel like cooking, so Gregory orders the Pizza and I collect on my way home. It is now part of our lives and worth taking a photo of!!

There is a blog I have been reading where people are putting there 365 photos but for now I think I will try to upload them here and see how I go. Here is Day 1 and Day 2, the rest are still on the camera! Not going to do very well if they stay there hey??

Day 1 - Daniel in front of the computer - he takes after his mother - he likes to check his emails and blogs first thing in the morning too.

Day 2 - Gregory having a very serious conversation about something - as only he can do. Note the glasses - he only got them on 30 Dec.

Righto off to do some things...

What a naughty little blogger I am...

I have neglected by blog for over 3 month now. Probably no-one left to read it now!! So hello if you are still checking my humble little place in the world of cyber space. See hand waving!!!

A lot has happened since then too.
I went to Qld for a month.
Caught up with all the rellies.
Organised a high school reunion which was absolutely bloody fantastic!!!
Saw my bestest friend Vicki and her family, including Nana!!
Am now a member of the Inspiration Team at The Scrap Heap Very exciting stuff!! I am so proud to be a part of the Team of awesome and inspiring ladies!!
Went to a wonderful homeschool camp with the boys over in Daylesford in Victoria.
Organised and enjoyed a lovely quiet Christmas and New Year with just the 4 of us.
A very busy three months put into less than 10 lines of text!!!

And so a new year begins.... resolutions, goals, aspirations yeah all that too!! I start goals all the time. Last year I did an Ali Edwards and chose one word to live by for the year. I can't even remember what that word was!!! Hopeless I am!! This year's word should be "FOCUS", Kathryn FOCUS!!!!!

Anyways I promise to blog more, share more photos, layouts etc.
Ciao for now!

A nice quiet Tuesday

Just sitting having a cup of tea - yep another old love has returned. I have just about given up coffee and now it is a cup of tea beside me as I type, sew, scrap, paint etc. Gotta leave the tea bag in though - I like it nice and strong! Better still is a pot freshly made - but I would rather have someone to share that with than have it on my own.

I have done 2 loads of washing, washed and cleaned up the kitchen, checked emails and blogs, met the new neighbours and now I am being calm before I head off to the doctor's for the check up. Think I might mention that I have been sick for over a week and I have a funny cough. It feels a lot like Asthma - which I haven't had since I came down to South Australia. Hope it isn't?

I worked on my canvas for the Cancer Council Pink Ribbon Day Exhibition last night. I am liking it so far.... The idea was that the CC sent you a canvas which you completed how ever you wanted and then they come and collect it and display it in the Adelaide Arcade in Adelaide on October 8. Then it is sold off to raise funds for the Cancer Council. Three other wonderful artistic ladies - Susy, Sandie and Christina are giving it a go too. How is it going ladies??? Remember you have to have them over to my place by Thursday!!

Spending some time organising the school reunion. I can't believe it was 30 years ago that we were all 15 and so excited about finishing Year 10 and heading off into the future. Some of us went into the workforce. Goodness that would be Gregory in another year!!! A lot of us went away to different boarding schools to do Year 11 and 12. Some of us went onto Uni or further studies. I can't wait to hear what some of them have been doing for the last 30 years?? One lady has a 3 year old child, another has a grandchild the same age, a couple never married, a couple never had children, a couple have died. Wow! i really can't wait!!!

Ok gotta go - will be on time for doctor but will probably have to wait awhile though!!

A quote for today:
I believe life is a series of near misses. A lot of what we ascribe to luck is not luck at all. It's seizing the day and accepting responsibility for your future. It's seeing what other people don't see and pursuing that vision. Lewis Grizzard.

My Old Love

Yep I have gone back to my old love today..... yes you heard me right..... today I spent most of the day with my darling Janome! I sewed and sewed and sewed and boy did Janome and I enjoy ourselves!!!

I took him in for a check up with the doctor in The Mount and now he is purring like a kitten. Together we made covers for the long lounge cushions and the chair I sit in. Then a new cover for the footstool. And then two new cushion covers in matching material. And..... then.... we went way overboard and made a very basic table runner for the dining table which is in the same room.

We are now resting and basking in the warm glow of a job well done.

And now for an appropriate quote:

Those who can laugh without cause have either found the true meaning of happiness or have gone stark raving mad. ~Norm Papernick

Ciao

Photos of Us For Edwards Family and Lisa.

This is Gregory from the back! Some people think he needs a haircut - but I think it would be a shame to cut off all those gorgeous curls! What do you think?

This is Gregory while he is playing on the computer. The game must have been going well as he is smiling!!

This is Daniel, smirking at me because he caught me taking a photo of him! Aren't those green eyes and dimple gorgeous?

Then there is me! Only one chin and a bit of a second one that will be gone soon too I hope?? Nothing I can do about the wrinkles though!!

Wish I was visiting with you guys in Brisbane - I am sure I am missing out on so much fun!