Stephen Hawking, general sir

I got back last night from Ohio and my Thanksgiving trip. It's weird when you're home long enough for people to feel comfortable easing back into their routine as if you weren't there. Not that I make my family wait on me or anything, it's just weird.

My sister is 17, and we shared a bed while I stayed there last week. She's used to being the cute girl in charge, so when I visit, I feel the need to put her in her place. Especially since my time to do so is limited: pretty soon she'll figure out that she's the talented, driven, pretty, brilliant one in the family, and the rest of us are just goof-offs. Until then, it's my job to keep her humble.

I made her read to me each night. This week she's reading a Stephen Hawking book about all sorts of fun sciencey things. Sure, the thoughts expressed on his pages are pretty interesting, but it's not a book I would have chosen. I digress. Since we're here, let's backtrack.

I watch a mediocre but sometimes momentarily wonderful sitcom called How I Met Your Mother. I recently learned a joke from its writers. Someone uses a phrase such as general idea, corporal punishment, or major disaster. I respond with a small salute, Major Disaster, as if reporting for duty. Yes, silly, but very pun-tastic, which is my favorite.

Back to bedtime. Emily is reading me Stephen Hawking and twice, TWICE in one sitting, he uses the phrase general knowledge. She knows my love for this joke. She pauses, graciously. I'm half asleep, so I don't even notice until her pause that something is up. She says in a fake-grudging way (because you know she wants it as badly as I do), "Go ahead." I use this pause and invitation time to rewind her words and process what she had read. I then bounce up in bed to salute and say in a very disciplinary fashion, "General Knowledge!" We both giggle and return to our weary states, a little happier.

It's a keeper.

Need a pick-me-up?

This must be shared. It's just. So. Good.

CLICK HERE. (No really.)

More specifically, HERE, HERE, and HERE.

And HERE.

And HERE.

And my FAVORITE.

And the Thermos Song!

I could go on and on.

Me 'n my gal

Maggie passed away this year. Another picture I just re-found, and don't want to lose. I miss her. She was the type who was always peppy, loved everyone, barked at strange cars, but then ran behind the house to hide when a stranger actually emerged from one, patient, sweet, and totally hugable.


These were taken when she was having a hard time getting around, but she was determined to climb the steps to the back porch to hang out with us and get her chew toy!

Love you, Mags.

Where's Kermit?

Check out this lily-pad lake in southeastern Ohio. I lived there for eight years and never knew it this was there. It's actually kind of breathtaking. I'm a little late in posting it, as the picture was taken in July, but I'm just going through some pictures now and really like this one. Don't you just want to hop across?

Leadership is hard!

A couple of months ago I was elected president of a local community/international service organization. For the most part, the experience has been exciting, inspirational, time-consuming, and fun. And apparently my oldest-child traits are still in effect, because I like being in charge. However, the democratic process is always challenging. I have one board member who sees things very differently than I do. Not only that, but we have strong cultural differences, and a partial language barrier, so communicating effectively is difficult, not to mention coming to a consensus.

But today we volunteered. And I feel good. And I wouldn't have volunteered today if it weren't for this organization. And I wouldn't have made some new friends, and I wouldn't be learning about my leadership strengths and weaknesses. So it's clearly worth the work, but it is also very hard. I don't quite know how to move forward, so I suppose I'll learn as I go. That's the way it started, right?

Wish me luck!!