Good news update

"4:05 PM (1 hour ago) Reply

Hi Y'all, My mom -Sunday- just found out from the hospital that Uncle Steve was released today. So we thought we would relay this to you all.

Andy"

Further update regarding Uncle Steve

"On Dec 28, 2007 10:18 PM, wrote:

I was at Mom's & we phoned Steve's room about 8pm. Nancy's brother, Don, was there, said Steve was in no position to answer phone then. He wasn't supposed to be even moving his arms at that point. He must be having one heck of a time trying to prevent bleeding. Don held the phone to his ear so he could say hi to Mom. He was slurring his words so maybe they had given him something for his back discomfort & maybe to help relax him. Poor guy. What a day. To go thru all that & have nothing to show for it. Wonder if he'll ever go back to a hospital after this!David called after that to talk to Mom. She wants to go see Uncle Joe. I'm hoping when Dan comes in, he'll take her over. I am staying until Sunday now & maybe we'll go over tomorrow afternoon, also. Although, if Steve is still in hospital, we'll go there to see him instead. I hope they keep him another day. Kinda think they will.

Beth, surgeon was unable to get into the artery that was 100% blocked. They may try again in 2-3 months."

From Dawn - an update about U.Steve

"11:53 a.m.

Dad is out of surgery. Didn't go as well as expected. They were working on the artery that is 100% blocked. They were unable to get the wire through the blockage. They stopped. They have advised that dad has three options. One try again in a few months, two not try again and take medication for the rest of his life or three have a single heart bypass done in a few months. Surgeon will be up in a while to discuss the options further. I will keep you posted.

Love you,Dawn"

Saying prayers for everyone this week

Dear Lord,

Please stay with my Aunt Joan as she recovers from gall bladder surgery (performed December 26). She is the strong one in her family in every way, and a huge help to her daughter and grandchildren, so this is a bit of a setback in the routines and lives of her family. Give Uncle Jim strength and guidance to do what is necessary and right to help Joan recover quickly.

Also, please guide the skilled hands of the doctors and nurses helping Uncle Steve as he undergoes angioplasty (and stents) to open up 3 very blocked arteries in his heart. His desires to refuse treatment are not in his best interests. Grant him peace of mind and clarity of thought to listen and interpret what would best suit his physical needs. Help him to see that your delivery of a skilled doctor to keep his heart beating is the miracle in all of this.

My brother went on a job interview this morning. Please allow him the luxury of being chosen for this position (or, at least to get out from under the bills and stress which have taken over his life and stolen his happiness these past few months).

Thank you for the many blessings you have given me in the course of my life, and the wisdom to start appreciating them (more) and seeing each for it's worth. For the gifts of friends old and new...the blessing of healthy, capable children - even with their issues, it could be so much worse - so, thank you. Thanks, too, for the working brain and ability to use it...a working car to get back and forth to school in...and a warm home to live in, with food on the table and clean sheets on the beds. For these things and so many more, I am grateful, and I know I am blessed.

Thank you, heavenly Father.

Just a handful of days left before 2007 evaporates

Doesn't it figure the year would have to end on a completely shocking note. An act of cowardice in the form of an inexcusable and senseless murder.

Rest in peace, Mrs. Bhutto.

Yes, Virginia, it's true

Nobody but yourself is looking at your blog. LOL

1) Finish (start) Christmas shopping. 2) Dust off a fake tree and decorate. 3) Round up tax papers. 4) Get into MichWorks office in Lk O and slap anyone who has "touched my case file" (morons). 5) Get cash to pay for Karl's tuition. 6) Pay my own monthly tuition (that reminds me - slap morons at unemployment office...AGAIN!). 7) Pat self on back for managing one of only 2 'A's' from Wednesday's ENG quiz. 8) Get copies of last shows from DblD before it's too late. 9) Get last graded projects back from Krystle - if she hasn't thrown them out. 10) Get last 2 graded projects back from DblD - he never returned anything - let alone told us how we did, either as individuals or as teams.

To be continued.

Photos for the visually stimulated

Remember to look down through the blog entries for pics in entries you may not be aware of.

Here is Heather, directing the RTV 09-07 Choir. Nice try, Heather.

Freakin' out Krystle. "Wha...why...how come you're taking my picture?"

Stockwell out of his element - at least...out of his familiar room.

Mark in his Neru-look. Very natty...quite jaunty!

Tech Director Denise.

Aha!

So you were online last night when I was attempting to call - over and over and over. ;^)

On my drive home, I wanted to phone you and let you know that Brian received an email yesterday saying he didn't get the flight attendent nod, and that he was feeling rather blue. Not that I wanted you to bring it up with him, but rather, that you know for future conversations. I am trying to encourage him to do two things (or, at least one of the two): Submit applications to other airlines for the same purpose; and, finish his associates this semester (enroll before it's too darn late).

Sure, I would consider going to Andy's...again. Though, I wish Michigan would make roads going in both directions, but I understand there's an asphalt shortage. You meant "Christmas Eve OR Christmas Day", right?

I will have to see what Brian's schedule is, and whether or not he works on the 24th. He picked up several extra hours on the snow day (and I think the night before, too), but the fathead who manages the store always seems to turn around and take away a day here or there to even things out for the others afterwards.

Hey, if the others don't want the tough days, why should Brian be 'penalized' later? AH well. He will tire of it sooner or later and look more actively for a job job.

As for New Year's eve "OR" day, you let me know what you want to do and how you want to play it, mom, you are the mover and shaker, I am an open staircase. You are welcome any time (I hope you know that), I am going to be here and having fun getting things done around the house...I do return to school on the second, as does K (I think).

Karl is excited over the prospect of his new class at OCC - begins on the Monday following the new year celebration! Kris M (OTC teacher) is going to be a good cheerleader for him, too, during this new experience. Should keep his efforts growing, and motivation to build skills and knowledge base in Maya moving forward. The prospect of him helping the new OTC kids learn Maya next year as an aide will be good, as he will be getting out of the house from time to time, he will be interacting with people, and keeping his hand on the software tool to remain current and practiced.

Also, I am working with the MRS people to see if they can make this a "job skill" situation and get a small stipend (like with the Comcast deal last year). Fingers crossed, prayers prayed.

Anyhow, have to study a bit more so I am not shakey...I have a test today that we would have had Monday (SNOW DAY!), and then lots of work in a few classes to make up for the shortages of time this semester.

Had a good day yesterday in TV News Prod - was like a mountain goat ("Kri-kri"); scaling the ladder, setting lights, repositioning lights, gels, frosts...floor plans. Must remember to take a t-shirt with me - and to stop wearing sweaters on those studio days.

Sort of learned the finer points (LOL) of Linear Editing (the six minute version - boy! what $10,500 + interest will buy you these days).

Gotta scoot. More later - til then...
Love you, me

Just so I can say I did it

Photos, just for the sake of being able to say I loaded some new photos.

So there! Nyah!

Daphne busts a smile! Beautiful.

Does that make you 'randy', baby?

Oh yes, we had to read that line, and we had to read the word "horny", too.

Jill, contemplating her next move; anticipating the hyperjump to the next b-roll queue.

I was darned proud of the way the donation box ended up looking. Thanks to Jean for her help and glue gun. If people had kicked in a little $, I could/would have decked the tree, too. The folks at Specs liked it so much they asked to keep it as is. (I threatened to repossess the little cookie dude after the drive ended - but what am I gonna do with a 3.5' gingerbread cutout?)

Alright, that's it for today, I have some studying to do, and some prep work, too. Plus, those darn dishes aren't going to wash themselves (and we all know that boys aren't an answer, either). Have a blessed day - and please be careful out there on the roads.

Can't tell you how many digits I had crossed...

...hoping we would have a snow day, and it worked - so you're welcome! Now, I am unclenching and uncrossing everything, and that should make typing ever so much easier. :^)

Managed to find a few bits and pieces of stuff from last quarter on a forgotten/misplaced ScanCard, so I hope you enjoy them. There are two or three grainy videos of ads written and performed in under thirty minutes during the last day spent in Heather's lecture class (some sort of Radio Production course), and those participating were given extra credit - despite their lack of involvement in the process whatsoever. Lots of "crock-o-shit" built into these courses, especially during Q2. Sometimes, I think the assignments were made up on the spot. But I am sure I have stated enough cynicism regarding last quarter and the uneven way things were done from student to student (grades, participation, attitude, behavior, extra credit [where we were told there was none], allowances, blind eyes turned, lack of teacher responsibility and response, inconsistancies in grading for more than one teacher, and on and on), so I won't be-labor the point any further. Ooops! Guess I did it anyway.

Hey, Julie's mom! Psst! I found a photo or two of yer kid....and she has great posture!

First up is a video I call "Winners, and Still Champions!"

Next is a little ditty we will call "Runners Up."

And this last vignette we shall call "Miss Congeniality."

I won't apologize for cutting off the first or last words of each, as there was no way to know when the teams would begin speaking, so I took my cue from the goofing around. And since the exercises were to be no more than a minute in length, and my camera only records up to one minute (at most) at a time...well, you get what I'm saying. Enjoy!

Julie was unaware that something had begun to creep out of her nostril. Being a demure young lady, Austin thought he would help her out of her shnoogerish state.

There you go, mom, perfect posture and no lil greenies to muck up that lovely face.

Brenden didn't believe us when we told him he looked like a famous country singer - Miss Tanya Tucker. But then, somebody else corrected us, and we now have to agree, he does look a little more like Willie Nelson...but only around the pigtails.

Well, who'd believe it...even if I HAD a picture!

As I type this, Santa Claus is snowblowing my driveway. Yep! True enough. And no, he isn't using reindeer to pull a plow blade. :^P He is walking behind a gas-powered snowblower - and man can it throw snow!

I returned from dropping Brian off at the mall for his shift this afternoon, and was stuck in the street at the end of the driveway for a few minutes, until I gave up the notion of backing into my driveway - as I always do. Then it took me a good five minutes just to broom off the stoop and stairs alone, and Karl and I made plans to have soup and a sandwich before heading outdoors to get the shoveling started. At the very least we thought we could attack it in shifts, shoveling 3' strips about 20' from the house up the drive towards the street. Then we thought shoveling the drive at the far end first would be a better plan, that way we could at least get the cars in and out of the driveway and off of the street to park, whether or not we had to walk from the house to the car a bit, or vice versa. So that was the plan. The next thing we knew, we heard Santa digging us out the new-fangled way! Yea!

Of course, we still need to get in between the cars and truck and around the side of each, but there is far less to tary over, now. Phew~

How do you pay back a Kringle? Giving him a container of gas seems very impersonal, but very utilitarian...and given the cost of gas, it may make a dent in his bill. But I still want to reward him for the absolute kindness of it. Any suggestions from the peanut gallery?

NEWS -

The first week is over for Q3, and there are quiz's to take in week 2, along with practicals (I think). So I will need to re-read my notes and pound the information into my brain. Lots to remember and soak in. We looked over an ENG and got started with Final Cut Pro and Photoshop CS2. Both very cool, but will require more hands on than I can get during class time in order to become less than proficient but better than lacking any skills. Also, we have two (count 'em...2) productions to write, set up, produce...blah, blah, blah. And those two production classes include the use of the ENG's and linear editing in order to pull it all off. HOLY COW!!...and YEA!!! I love that stuff.

Karl is now enrolled in OCC (Oakland Community College)...one course this semester, but it will be a doozy for him; and it's right up his alley. A new CAD class was added to the program, which doesn't require the CAD1100 prereq! The class is a 3D animation course, which should meld with the Maya software he is knee deep into at OTC (post high program). His interest should remain high, and Mrs. Miner (teacher for Maya) will help to keep him on task by inquiring about his work in the course. The OCC class starts with the new year, and ends on my birthday - well before he ends the post high Media course - so he should have a good portfolio begun!

Brian has yet to register (or care about registering) for any further classes...grrr! His interviewer from NorthWest said that their decisions regarding who is accepted for the flight attendant training will be made by the end of this week (two weeks after the interviews in Flint), and that means this week he should be hearing one way or the other. Please say prayers and cross fingers for a good outcome. Oh, and extra prayers for the boy to understand he should take advantage of being able to finish up at OCC this semester and get his associates degree before taking off for FA training. Being just the mom, I am obviously too stupid to understand. LOL

For those in the know, my script is coming along...slowly, but methodically. One of my classmates has paid me to use 10 Sunbonnet Sue patches created by an older generation family member, and make a lap quilt for her mom. So far, so good, but it has taken a lot of my waking hours when not trying to accomplish other household chores and needful things. Like chasing down unemployment payment paperwork...YIKES (and getting my machine repaired and out of the repair shop)! The state of Michigan sucks, and the state employee's (for the most part) should be let go and replaced by those unemployed people who would really like a job to do. Maybe then there would be something to show for all of the dead trees and mounds of ink on forms. Maybe. Also, my internship position is still moving along. I spent another 4.5 hours at the Comcast location this past Thursday morning, and I loved it. Still need to get a copy of the credits with my name in type for my resume, but it is a working TV gig. SO, huzzah! It does make for very long days when I have those mornings, but they are only once a month, so overall, not too bad for the opportunity it provides. Thank you, John and Therese. God bless you both.

For now, that is all I have to offer, but I will return. There's a sink full of dishes to be washed and some shoveling to do around the cars. Oh, and sewing to get done, too, so I am going to have to shove off for the time being. Take care of yourselves, and each other. Enjoy the holiday season and remember to thank God for the reason.

Peace out!

Back to the grindstone, er...I mean, the classroom

WOW! Has is really been a week already? No way!

Back to SHS and Q3 today - drats. I still have so much to do that I didn't accomplish during the lovely week off between quarters, but I will keep trying to motivate myself to get things done before heading to Southfield every day at noon.

The main thing to get done is to finish registering Karl for a CAD class at OCC. Turns out a prerequisite course is not necessary for him to attend the 3D animation class - YEA!! Now need to get the PASS office in step, and a hand from CLS to get Karl transportation to class should Brian's schedule not jibe for the drop off portion....I can handle the pick-up afterwards. Of course, there is another glorious week off coming up the week between the holidays, and the first couple of days into 2008. So, I am already planning my hours. LOL

Brian had an interview with NW Air reps last week, to try and get into their flight attendant training program, which would lead to work as a mechanic. Naaaaw...

Just wanted to see if you were reading for content, or simply blowing by looking for photos.

My friends and like-minded earnest 'buckle-downs' are mostly going radio ("Audio"), but I wanted to go TV Production (for many reasons). I am hoping to be happily surprised to find some friendly faces in class, and more eager that they aren't the noisy ne'er-do-wells from Q's 1 & 2. I am pretty certain Gillian will be in TV prod, along with Lauren (but of that I am not certain). The Rev and Brenden (with the e's, not Schmest...thanks be) I think were headed in the TV direction, but it seemed the majority were going Radio. Cool! Smaller class size is a much better thing.

Good luck to all and enjoy yourselves no matter which direction you go!

Have a good Monday everyone, and be careful driving out there. I mean it!

Uh-oh

So, I took stock of the fact that it's been a while since I last blogged, and that I still have photos to post. I'll get to it...I promise.

- I worked on a quilt for a while this morning, and I intend to get haircuts for Karl and myself this afternoon (sometime after he gets home from OTC). Can't you just hear the grumbling now?

- Need to make certain I call the unemployment number, on my ascribed date/time this week, to start the unemployment payments back up...oh yippee.

Right, and let's not forget I wanted to try and finish laying the flooring in the far rear corner (N.E. room on the lower level - under Karl's room) so I can use the space as sitting and/or a changing area (until I can get into the workout area to finish it and then use some of that space for my closet/drawers instead). Right now it is a wreck with some storage units sort of piled with clothes, shoes, what-have-you (that I can get to with great difficulty) and piles of the flooring all over the floor from my work on the great area and sewing and entry room areas. So I need to clean and prep before I can finish. Yikes! But it needs to get done...I need to finish it...and I will!

- I have numerous errands and chores that need all of the hours I will not be spending in class this week!

YEA! I love these week-long breaks between the semesters!

So much to do. Yet, as much as I'd like to think I have the calendar mapped out to best utilize my time, I feel so overwhelmed just trying to figure out where to begin, and then stop feeling neglectful while not doing some other activity first. Does that make sense? LOL

Brian's in-person interview with an airline rep will happen this first week in December. If he passes this 'inspection', he will be moved to the next rung in his bid to become a flight attendant. Fingers crossed, prayers muttered...I hope he gets what he wants.

Excuse me, my dryer just shut off. I will return momentarily. While you wait, here are some photos for your amusement.

My friend Maria (will you look at that smile), with Andrew C. as Director for that show. Andrew, I was glad you sat up straight with your last graded shows, it really made a difference in your delivery and appearance - you looked so much more poised and confident. And, when you told me you felt it in your delivery - I was very proud and happy. Keep it up, young man, whether you go radio or video, it will always make a difference. Good job!

And Brenden, getting a head start on the whole candy cane/holiday thing.

We had some of the best-dressed news people. Very flashy, Grant.

'fraid so, Tisheena. Caught you! AND you were smiling. HA, I win!

So, another one of my cousins married over the holiday weekend (CORRECTION: They were married the first of November, as it turns out) - and I just found out about it via the Schaffer grapevine. Congrats to Dawn and Guy. I knew it was going to happen...despite all of Dawn's protestations. :^)

Well, I have books to catalogue, yet (shoot, is THAT an understatement), and I have to add Christmas cards to my list of to-do's. I have them bought (from last year's after Xmas sales, mom, so relax!), but the work is ahead of me...all that doggone addressing and sending, and signing and what have you. Thanks, Dottie, for reminding me I am behind. Dottie is the winner this year - her card was the first to arrive. Very pretty, and lots of news in the Dot-o-gram included. Very exciting news about David and his clan moving back to MI...hope the unemployment rate/job market won't be a pain for him. And was sorry to read your mom has had a bummer year health-wise. Please give her a hug for me.

My 96-year-old Gram (maternal side) has moved into another apartment complex, and from all reports she is loving it. Although it is a bit further away from Specs (making it harder to stop by - if she would stay in one place long enough to drop in on), she is happy, and that is all that matters. Hoping to be able to wander in and take her a small decorated tree for the holidays. Nothing big - in fact, it is a feathered tree, and probably won't fill a corner.... mostly just to give some holiday cheer and color. Mom, did you wrap her door with wrapping paper, yet?

OK, must quit for now, but I will be back soon. Hope you will be, too. Hugs and cheer. Stay warm and keep well - or...keep warm and stay well. Hmmm. Either way. :^)

The Stampede of Disrespect (A.K.A. My Potty Mouth Rant)

I guess - being an older fogey, such as I am ('cuz I am more parental than of their generation) - I can see where the younger generation does not think being "at attention" while sitting in a classroom is a big thing. Why facing forward during the class lectures and facing the teacher during attendance is a blow-off sort of thing. I don't agree with that...nor will I ever condone it. Turn around...sit there and SHUT UP! Jeez! How hard is that for 5 minutes or less? Is it possible that what you have to say to your neighbor is really that much more valuable in the grand scheme of things...really? Save it for break time, or while you are busy applying your 3rd layer of exceedingly glaring lip gloss - in the bathroom.

But then, by the same token, they (and "they" know who they are) should apply the same latitude in their thinking to my belief that such a show of disrespect is abhorrent and rude, r-u-d-e, RUDE. Not that I believe they would give a rat's ass if they knew. Another thing - during "outtro" attendance, it would be especially polite if people would sit (that's SIT) quietly and wait for everyone else's names to be called. And I don't care if the instructor doesn't have the intestinal fortitude to be a hard ass about it (like Sherock did), you are supposed to behave in accordance with the rules - like the remainder of the polite people in your class. Why don't you look around and take a cue from them? For crying out loud.

And knowing that it is important that the classroom teams work together as a whole for the class exercises, the pitiful attitude(s) and work habits of those shitty people (I have counted, and there were approximately 6 of them remaining) should succumb to the higher-minded habits (yes...I know I am dreaming, and that it will never happen) of those decent students dragging the shitty people forward to completion in the projects.

Thankfully, I am not the only person who shares this/these opinion(s), and that a sizeable portion of my much younger class peers recognize the troubles facing us...so I am hopeful for future generations to have a moral and humanistic (considerate) upbringing (albeit - a smaller population of them as time passes - but thank you for not adding to the chaos). OH! and please extend my thanks and congratulations to your parents for having taken the time and energy to raise thoughtful, introspective, considerate people. They should know they have done a good thing and that you are appreciated by outsiders.