Working Through My To-Do List

Working Through My To-Do List
Originally uploaded by Dowbiggin

Wow! Today has been a day and a half! I think I am still recovering from the wild and crazy Macworld weekend, plus I had my first and second graders today, and they always take a lot out of me.

But once I was done at work, I still had a LOT to get done.

Got my application in for Apple Distinguished Educator (fingers crossed!), stopped by the Scout Store, had dinner with my boys, did the grocery shopping, got a birthday card for my girlfriend, set up online access to my HSA account, and refilled a prescription. Now I just need to get those two blog posts uploaded that have been sitting in my files for weeks.

Mondays kind of hit me hard lately.

Hit the Bricks, Pal!

Hit the Bricks, Pal!
Originally uploaded by Dowbiggin

Full disclosure: this is actually from yesterday, but as days go, it had at LEAST two days worth of awesome packed into 24 short hours. So much so that I spent much of today in bed recovering. (I think I am getting a cold or something.)

Kyle did not know I was taking this picture during the Twitter Chorus at Macworld. Chris Bell and Carol Anne McGuire were talking about how to use Twitter as an educational technology tool, and they were just discussing blocking users when I saw Kyle holding his hand in this way while he worked away on something else.

Thank Goodness There Was a Sign

Thank Goodness There Was a Sign
Originally uploaded by Dowbiggin

While at Macworld today, at Moscone West for the big CUE all-day event, I stepped away briefly to use the restroom. On my way, I passed this.

Thank goodness there was a sign, so I did not mistake these for some kind of wall-mounted bidets. The best part? Someone I know came along (also to use the ladies' room) while I was taking this picture with my iPhone and curiously inquired as to what I was doing.

Don't Try This At Home

Don't Try This At Home
Originally uploaded by Dowbiggin

As I approached work this morning, the fog got really thick as we got close to school. I may or may not have taken this with my iPhone while driving. If confronted, I'll deny everything.

Blue Skies and Blue Eyes

Blue Skies and Blue Eyes
Originally uploaded by Dowbiggin

This is my son before school this morning. He was clowning around on the playground with my husband when we got this silly shot.

Cameron also got to hold the American flag for this morning's first and second grade flag salutes.

I Fear Things May Be Getting Out of Hand

I Fear Things May Be Getting Out of Hand
Originally uploaded by Dowbiggin

It occurred to me as we had to repeatedly school our son on what we meant when we said "here, bring me that remote" that perhaps it wasn't really his fault that he never brought the correct one the first time around.

Spike the Mic

Spike the Mic
Originally uploaded by Dowbiggin

I was sitting at my desk at work today, admiring the hair on one of my 8th graders, and I realized it would look funny on top of the Snowball microphone already sitting out on my desk. A little creative angling and he didn't even notice until I showed him how the pics came out.

Food Pyramid Fun

Food Pyramid Fun
Originally uploaded by Dowbiggin

Here's one of my students, a second grader, searching for more clip art of food items to fill her food pyramid nutrition guide. Later, the students will type a paragraph about what the food pyramid is and how it helps us.

One thing I really like about this project is that it is one of the first in which my second graders start demonstrating some independence while repeating a series of steps to identify and locate clip art they need, insert it, change the wrapping and size, and put it into the correct part of the template diagram. After this project, they really show more confidence with a lot of what we do in the lab. It's probably at just the right time in the school year too.

On the Phone with Nanny

On the Phone with Nanny
Originally uploaded by Dowbiggin

My son was at work with me today, so we called my mother. He chatted away, quite the thing, and I can tell she's really noticing how much he's growing up. He just turned seven on Monday. We're in California, and she is in New Jersey, so we don't get to see each other much. But we always phone on Sundays.

Scouting Pow Wow

Scouting Pow Wow
Originally uploaded by Dowbiggin

I spent my entire Saturday at the University of Scouting, as I am a Cub Scout leader. When I was taking some pictures (with my iPhone) of the teepee, this young man was kind enough to stop to pose. He was one of a number of young people decked out in Native American regalia as part of today's education/celebration.

One of the things I learned early in the day yesterday is that our brand-new, very small Pack (14 boys, grades 1-3) is barely a fledgling Scouting unit. There are so many huge Packs with multiple Dens at each level (Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelos I, Webelos II). I started to feel really isolated and discouraged. I heard about Pack Committees that consisted of a number of people, whereas I alone AM our Pack Committee right now. I heard about Cubmasters of Packs so large they did not know all the boys' names, Assistant Cubmasters, Den Leaders, Assistant Den Leaders.

We have nothing like this kind of structure. The afternoon went a little better for me and I got some real positives out of all six sessions I attended throughout the day. I came away from the entire experience feeling that I need to help each adult in our Pack find his or her special role. And EVERYONE gets a job. Now, after some work I need to get done for another responsibility of mine, I just need to make a list of adults and jobs and help each one find the perfect fit.

Where All the Cool Kids Hang Out

Where All the Cool Kids Hang Out
Originally uploaded by Dowbiggin

I was working on testing the EyeFi card in my camera on the school network. Could not help but notice how hard our staff works to keep everyone healthy. This is next to where kids enter and exit the mini-lab of computers in our school library. Note the future president seen hanging out in a library in the picture....

Nonchalant

Nonchalant
Originally uploaded by Dowbiggin

They didn't know I was taking this picture. Cameron was up out of his chair and Alec was about to say something like "what are you doing?". we had just finished dinner at Pasta Pomodoro. This isn't just today's Project 365 photo because it's the only one I took today, I also like it a lot.

Fire in the Sky

Fire in the Sky
Originally uploaded by Dowbiggin

I had only JUST uploaded yesterday's 365 pic before leaving work, so I took my camera out as I left to head home, and just started snapping pictures. The sun was close to setting, and my new camera was having trouble showing me what this would look like on its little screen.

This was the best of the pictures from the set I took on my walk out to the parking lot. I love the intensity of the orange.

The Other Side of His Sign Says "Single?"

The Other Side of His Sign Says "Single?"
Originally uploaded by Dowbiggin

My friend Ken and I were heading from La Jolla over to the airport so he could drop me off for my flight home. This cheerful chap stood on the corner with a sign that just said "SMILE" and in one part of the E it said "VET."

I don't know if he's homeless and looking for money or just a really happy dude. But when I looked out and smiled at him, he flipped the sign over, revealing the word "SINGLE?" I had to laugh.

The light changed, and Ken was like, "Can I drive yet?" because he knew I was taking this picture.

So, thanks Ken!

Happy Birthday, Little Man!

Happy Birthday, Little Man!
Originally uploaded by Dowbiggin

Today, my son turned seven. We met friends for lunch at In-N-Out Burger, and they had gotten him this huge balloon, which was so nice of them.

Today I took pictures of our family bowling, lunch at the burger joint, sunset over the mountains from the airport, and my suite and the entire hotel in La Jolla, San Diego. I've flown hundreds of miles and taken 49 pictures. This one came out the best and has the most meaning for me.

Energy Burst

Energy Burst
Originally uploaded by Dowbiggin

I went for a walk with my husband and son after the conference I attended in Monterey. My goal was to take LOTS of pictures so I would have plenty to choose from for today's 365. I ended up really liking the colors and water droplets in this picture.

Sardine Factory Atrium

Sardine Factory Atrium
Originally uploaded by Dowbiggin

I had dinner with some friends at the Sardine Factory last night. I took a bunch of pictures earlier today, but none of them really came close to how much I like this one. I took this from the spot where I sat for dinner. Meal was great, company was great. Tried new foods and made new friends.

Mesh and Lace

Mesh and Lace
Originally uploaded by Dowbiggin

I was driving around, trying to find the Monterey Peninsula Airport, and I took a wrong turn. I found an adorable church I decided to stop and photograph, since I was early, and my friend's flight was delayed. When I got out of my car, I saw HUNDREDS of spider webs. They reminded me of terraced flats or something. Here's a shot I got of the detail of one of the "meshy-er" webs. The mist in the morning was perfect for bringing these masterpieces to light.

Lamentations 3:23

Lamentations 3:23
Originally uploaded by Dowbiggin

A former student whose mother works in our school's business office is now all grown up and she's an artist. When we came back from Christmas Break, our staff restrooms in the main building of the school had been painted. This extra gift in the ladies' room shows off some of Becca's talents. The details on the roses and thorns are lovely.

Workspace

Workspace
Originally uploaded by Dowbiggin

My husband and I just bought an Executive (with a capital E) office chair. He uses it during the day when I am at work (he's self-employed and does some of his work from home), and I use it once I get home. The dining room table, which resides in our living room (long story) has a special place at the end of it where the new chair stays and I sit with my laptop in the evenings now.

It's better all around than lying on the couch with the laptop literally in my lap, looking upwards at the screen, right? Tonight I am working on getting EyeFi cards working with my new Canon SD1300IS. (Hubby has the blue one, and my brown one arrived today!) So this has been my view this evening.

So I need to get back to setting up and experimenting with the EyeFi cards. This was a quick, fun diversion.