Depth Perception

Whenever I am bored at work, or feel the need to be inspired when writing yet another proposal, I head up to the third floor and stare VERY intently at this wall.
Why? Why the h*** not, for one thing ... and for another, it's all a matter of perception. Look more closely, and you'll see that "behind the drapes" lies some of the great masterpieces of the English language. Rather than being completely weird, I'm actually being inspired by all the words of the Bard. Really ...

Mostly, it's ...

Quote(s) of the Day

When you share an office with people, there are time when you inevitably overhear conversations that aren't work-related. For the most part, you pretend to ignore things, and maintain the "illusion of privacy" -- that tacit understanding that you can't/won't/haven't heard anything.

Sometimes, though, you just can't help but "tune" back into conversations when snatches of dialogue come floating across the room and over the cubicle wall.

Take this gem, courtesy of my boss:

" ... the delicious ambiguities that life sometimes offers ..."

Or my absolute favorite:

"Can’t you suck it up and be unhappy like most couples?"

WHAT?!

Oh, yes. He really did say that (to one of his friends), and oh, yes, I really did start laughing, very very loudly.

I think that's the perfect saying for a series of greeting cards and/or to be needle pointed onto a pillow. I can even envision the marketing campaign, targeted at therapists, marriage counselors, divorce attorneys, and custody arbiters, not to mention as a series of anniversary or snarky cards.

Now, if only I could draw ...

Retroblog November 15, 1985

The United States Air Force Symphony Orchestra

Friday, 15 November, 1985 - 8:00 p.m.

Albert N. Jorgensen Auditorium, UCONN - Storrs

Haydn Sinfonia No. 86

Davidov Konzert No. 1 in B Minor, for cello and orchestra, Op. 5

Foote Four Character Pieces after the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, Op. 48

Still Afro-American Symphony

This must have quite the impression, because I kept the program for all these years. Perhaps it was even my first symphony concert. Looking at it now, this is quite an evening of music. I'll have to find some audio clips to re-live the evening.

We were fortunate enough to live 15 minutes from the UCONN campus and my dad's office was in the basement beneath Jorgensen (near the shark -- not kidding!). As the cultural center of Eastern Connecticut, Jorgensen did, and still does, program a wide variety of events and presentations and I'm very fortunate that my parents recognized the importance of supplementing my exposure to the arts. It set me on the path I'm still wandering down.

Retroblog November 14, 1981

Today is November 14, 1983 Time 1:20 p.m.

Hi! Sorry I haven't written. In school I'm doing o.k. Tomorrow there is a big swimming test. I hope I pass. Report cards came out on the 14th of November. I got an B in Penmenship, but that figures. I got an
A* reading - A* Music - A* Art, A-math - A+* Science A+*P.E. - A-*L.A. - A* Social Science - A*Spelling.
Did pretty good I think.

Write Tommorrow!

P.S. It snowed a little bit 11/16/83

(*ahem*) NERD!

My "penmenship" is so bad, at first I thought I got an A+ in DANCE, not science, but I knew that that wasn't possible.

I must have passed the swim test, or they graded on a serious curve for effort in P.E.!

Retroblog November 13, 1981

Today is Friday, Nov 13, 1981 Time 6:17 PM

I'm very sorry I haven't written for a long time!

I have learned a lot of things since I last wrote I know how to write in cursive. I like to play.

P.S. I hope I will be be writeing soon. bye-now

I may have learned a lot of things, like how to write in cursive, but you could never tell it from here. Where is the evidence of the cursive? What did I learn? What did I like to play? Who was I writing to? What was the point of this entry?

SERIOUSLY!

Judging Books

You know how you aren't supposed to judge a book by its cover?

I want to read this book, based solely on the title.

I Haven't Dreamed of Flying for a While

by Taichi Yamada

Doesn't it just make your imagination take flight?

Veterans Day 2009

In this family, this means remembering to thank Dad for his service, and remembering the grandfathers for their service before, during, or after WWII. I also am reminded that my paternal grandmother should also be thanked for her service to this country, for her work as a "Rosie." (See this article in today's NYTimes about "Rosies." )

When that grandmother, Grandma Roa, passed a few years ago, I inherited the bulk of her vintage jewelry. In a small box, mixed in with assorted lapel pins, Boy Scout insignia, and sweetheart jewelry, there are various Naval items, from my grandfather's stint in the service. For various reasons, the meaning behind much of the memorabilia has been been lost, though the appreciation for the sacrifices that they represent--and gratitude that they were saved--remains.
I need to have the "stars and bars" identified, and then I need to mount and shadowbox these pieces for our family history. (If any Navy vets stumble across this blog and can id these for me, I'd be greatly appreciative.)

Happy Veterans Day to all those who have served and are serving our country, including those family members holding up the fort on the homefront.

Update: With thanks to Casey over at mooshinindy.com, I found out about ancestry.com's offer to let people troll through the military databases free of charge. After looking around a bit, I was able to discover that Grandpa J was on the U.S.S. Cowpens in July of 1944, plus his service number, and when and where he enrolled in the service. That's more information than I had an hour ago! Plus, I'm pretty sure I saw about four of my forefather's military records in there as well, but as I'm supposed to be oh, I don't know WORKING, I have to get out of personal research mode.

Awesome. Thanks Casey. Thanks ancestry.com. Thanks also to all the Clydes, Horaces, Elijahs, Roys, and LeRoys!